The Capability of Space Mission to Study the Ionosphere and Electromagnetic Disturbances Related to Seismic Activity. Vladimir D. Kuznetsov, Yuriy Ya. Ruzhin, Valery M. Sorokin, Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation, Russian Academy of Sciences IZMIRAN, Troitsk, Moscow Region, Russia, The micro-satellite COMPASS-2 launched on May 26, The detailed COMPASS-2 mission and payload description and also some results of measurements are presented. The base of interpretation of satellite data is electrodynamic model of the atmosphere - ionosphere coupling. Our model gives an explanation to some electromagnetic and plasma phenomena in the ionosphere due to charge aerosols convective transport and radioactive increases in the lower atmosphere related to typhoons and earthquakes.

Main Measured Parameters Electromagnetic emissions (ELF-VLF and HF) Electrical and magnetic fields Ionosphere plasma density Temperature of electrons and ions Ion-mass spectral components Power spectrum of energetic electrons/ions (> 15 keV) Intensity of the IR radiation

The first (experimental) stage in creating the Space System is the launch of a small spacecraft Compass-2. Its main objectives are to test and refine the monitoring techniques for detecting the earthquake ionospheric precursors in various regions over the world and to accumulate experimental and statistical data for increasing reliability of the forecast of major earthquakes (М>5).

Global Seismic Hazard Map COMPASS-2 paths Low orbits satellites (height of an orbit of km) for a day carry out monitoring all surface of the Earth, covering zones of the increased seismic activity

Micro-satellite “Compass” was developed and produced by SRC “Makeyev Design Bureau” in cooperation with IZMIRAN. The first launch was in December 2001, the second launch will be in Satellite mass (scientific equipment), kg 80(20) Volume for equipment, dm3 67 Average orbit power consuption 25 W Attitude control accuracy, angular min 1 S/C mission lifetime – 3 years (at least) Orbit parameters: - altitude, km inclination, deg 79 Technical data of “COMPASS-2” SC

Small spacecraft COMPASS-2 Set of a scientific instruments: 1. The radio-frequency analyzer 2. A low-frequency wave complex 3. Two-frequency transmitter " Mayak " 4. A measuring instrument of the full electronic contents 5. The sensors of radiation and a ultraviolet

Dynamic VHF spectrum on February 8, 2007 at fly over above western coast of Southern America

An example of a dynamic spectrum of a record VLF, obtained , 05:00:00 UT. On the spectrogram the tracks of off-on signals with frequency decreasing in due course are visible. The scale of intensity of tracks is shown at the left. On the upper part of the spectrogram - electrical components, on lower - magnetic is shown.. Duration of signals ~ ms.

Distribution of earthquakes at Kamchatka on A pink circle below - position of a satellite in a check-in time of the VLF-DATA on at 21:35:49 (session 790).

A dynamic VLF spectrum of a record of a low frequency wave analyzer, obtained at fly over above Kamchatka on at 21:35:49 (one day prior to earthquake).

At the left - view of the Earth on the part of South poles. On the right observed datas of flows of protons 7-15 МeV and the red colour gives a channel of the gas-dischrge counter.

At the top of the oscillograms registered on the night party of the Earth with the help of the sensor of ultraviolet DRF at 21:04:41 UT on г. Below - oscillograms registered on the night party of the Earth with the help of the sensor of ultraviolet DRF at 22:21:29 UT on г.

Satellite Mission Control Center Pedestal and flight control center antennas (new pedestal with 4M parabolic antenna planned in near future) Satellite flight control center of IZMIRAN (Troitsk, Moscow region, Russia)

Despite of considerable limitations, bound with spacecraft, the primary goals of testing of complex scientific during of flight tests of experimental space vehicle were resolved. The operational testing of scientific devices has shown that, the built complex of scientific instrumentation can be utilized as a fundamentals for creation of a specialized complex of scientific instrumentation of ionospheric monitoring for the subsequent projects intended for monitoring of near-earth space with the purpose of detection, registration and analysis of abnormal phenomena in an ionosphere, bound with earthquakes both other natural and technogenic catastrophes. More information is on site:

Electrodynamic model of DC electric field formation in the ionosphere and the atmosphere at the stages of earthquake and typhoon development allows to explain numerous effects in space plasma. This field caused by electric current flowing in the ionosphere is controlled by dynamics of the lithosphere and the atmosphere processes through variations of external electric current in the lower atmosphere. Horizontal spatial scale of this current is about 10 to 100 km and the characteristic time scale is days.

The model used for calculations of current and field in the atmosphere - ionosphere electric circuit above seismic zone 1. Earth surface 2. Conductive layer of the ionosphere 3. External electric current in the lower atmosphere 4. Conductivity electric current in the atmosphere – ionosphere circuit 5. Field - aligned electric current 6. Satellite trajectory 7. Charged aerosols injected into the atmosphere by soil gases

The external current is excited in a process of vertical atmospheric convection and gravitational sedimentation of charged aerosols. Aerosols are injected into the atmosphere due to intensifying soil gas elevation in the lithosphere during the enhancement of seismic activity. Its inclusion into the atmosphere – ionosphere electric circuit leads to DC electric field increases up to 10 mV/m in the ionosphere. Aerosol transferring can be accompanied by increasing of atmospheric radioactivity.

The altitude dependences of ion production rate at epicenter of disturbed region. We have chosen: 1) A=0, 2) A=2, 3) A=4. Transfer equation for the distribution function of gamma quanta 1) A=0, 2) A=2, 3) A=4.

Kinetics of ions and aerosols in presence of atmospheric radioactivity.

The altitude dependences of atmosphere conductivity at the epicenter of disturbed region. On the left panel it is presented atmosphere conductivity at the different level of atmospheric radioactivity. On the right panel it is presented atmosphere conductivity at the different number density of charged aerosols over Earth’s surface. 1) A=0, 2) A=2, 3) A=4. A=0; 1) Np0 = 10 cm-3, 2) Np0 = 100 cm-3, 3) Np0 = 1000 cm-3; Nn0 = 0.64 Np0.

The altitude dependences of external electric current at the epicenter of disturbed region. 1) A=0, 2) A=2, 3) A=4. External current is formed as a result of: convective transfer of charged aerosols, ionization of lower atmosphere by radioactive sources, adhesion of electrons to molecules, interaction of charged ions with charged aerosols

Atmospheric electric field variations with time scale exceeding 1 day at the distances within tens to hundreds kilometers from earthquake center during seismically active period never exceed the background magnitudes ~ V/m. The mechanism of feedback between disturbances of vertical electric field and the causal external currents near the Earth surface can explain such limitation.

Scheme of the feedback formation between external current and vertical electric field on the Earth surface 1 - Positive charged aerosols. 2 - Negative charged aerosols. 3 - Elevated soil gases. 4 - The Earth surface. Intensified soil gas elevation during the enhancement of seismic activity increases aerosols injection into the atmosphere. The field limitation on the Earth surface is caused by feedback mechanism between excited electric field and the causal external current. This feedback is produced by the potential barrier for charged particle at its transfer from ground to the atmosphere

Dependence of vertical electric field on the Earth surface on the magnitude of external current

Formulas for calculation of spatial distribution of DC electric field connected with conductivity electric current in the atmosphere and the ionosphere caused by charged aerosols injection into the atmosphere It is assumed: The external electric current is:

DC electric field calculated for axially symmetric distribution of the external electric current Upper panel: Horizontal DC electric field in the ionosphere along and across the plane of magnetic meridian. Angle of magnetic field inclination is Middle panel: Vertical component of DC electric field on the Earth surface. Lower panel: Normalized vertical component of external current on the Earth surface.

On possibility of lightning discharges occurring above seismic region. Calculation result of altitude dependence of ratio of electric field to breakdown field. The lightning discharges can be occurred on the altitudes where this ratio more than unit.

Spatial distributions of DC electric field calculated for axially symmetric distribution of the external electric current Upper panel: Horizontal component of DC electric field in the ionosphere. Angle of magnetic field inclination is Lower panel: Vertical component of DC electric field on the ground.

Spatial distribution of DC electric field in the ionosphere calculated for the different angles of magnetic field inclination

Spatial distribution of the horizontal component of electric field in the ionosphere and the vertical component of electric field on the Earth surface over fault in the form an ellipse.

Examples of satellite observations of DC electric field DC electric field observed by the "ICB -1300" satellite within 15-min interval before the earthquake occurred on January 12, 1982 at UT. DC electric field observed by the “COSMOS -1809" satellite over the zone of large-scale tropical depression in its initial stage on January 17, 1989

The dissipative instability of acoustic-gravity waves in the ionosphere The plasma density variations in the wave result in growth of the conductivity disturbances and the Joule heating connected with the disturbed currents. As a result the conductivity irregularities with the horizontal spatial scale are excited in the lower ionosphere. The frequency dependence of the refraction index and the absorption coefficient of acoustic-gravity wave in the ionosphere in the presence of an external electric field.

Formation of field-aligned currents and plasma irregularities in the upper ionosphere as a result of AGW instability in the lower ionosphere. The excitation of horizontal spatial structure of conductivity in the lower ionosphere results in the formation of field align currents and plasma layers stretched along the geomagnetic field.

Examples of satellite observations of ULF magnetic field oscillations and electron number density fluctuations 1. Irregularities of ionosphere conductivity. 2. Irregularities of electron number density stretched along geomagnetic field. 3. Field-aligned currents. 4. Satellite trajectory crossing the disturbed region. a). ULF magnetic field oscillations observed onboard the "ICB -1300" satellite within the 15- min interval before the earthquake occurred on January 12, 1982 at UT. b). Electron number density fluctuations observed onboard the “COSMOS- 1809” satellite within the 3.4 hour interval before aftershock of the Spitak earthquake on January 20, 1989 at UT.

The excitation of horizontal small-scale irregularities of electric conductivity in the lower ionosphere can be used as a basis for generation mechanism of electromagnetic ELF precursors to earthquakes. These waves appear due to interaction of thunderstorm related EM radiation with small-scale plasma irregularities excited in the lower ionosphere before earthquakes. EM pulses are generated by lightning discharges and propagate in the sub-ionospheric wave guide with small attenuation in ELF range

Gyrotropic waves generation in the lower ionosphere.

ULF magnetic field perturbations on the Earth surface.

Nonlinear self-consistent equations for calculation of electric field and electron number density in the E layer of ionosphere.

Spatial distribution of electron number density in the E layer of ionosphere at flowing electric current from the atmosphere to the ionosphere. Axial symmetric external current

Altitude distribution of the electron number density in the center of disturbed E region of ionosphere.

Altitude dependence of electron number density formed by diffusion of metallic ions in horizontal DC electric field in the ionosphere over the seismic region. Dashed line corresponds to the molecular ions number density. Angle of magnetic field inclination

Altitude dependence of electron number density in the D layer of ionosphere at flowing electric current from the atmosphere. Change of electric charge carriers from negative ions to electrons in the electric current flowing through D layer result in perturbation of the ionosphere. Line (3) – Electric current is missing. Line (2) – Temperatures of electron and ion are same. Line (1) – Temperature of electrons at their heating by electric current more than temperature of ions.

Response of the ionosphere to typhoon and earthquake development as observed from satellites and ground stations Typhoons Earthquakes Eruptions Near– ground atmosphere. Convective transport of charged aerosols and external electric current formation. Atmosphere. Electric current in the atmosphere – ionosphere circuit. Ionosphere. DC electric field, AGW instability, ionosphere conductivity irregularities. Magnetosphere. Field-aligned currents, plasma density irregularities. Ground based data Changes in the ionosphere F layer. Occurrence of sporadic E s layer. ULF geomagnetic pulsations Changes in whistler characteristics. Satellite data DC electric field enhancement Plasma density irregularities ULF/ELF electromagnetic oscillations

Conclusion Convective transport of charged aerosols in the lower atmosphere at different stages of typhoon and earthquake development leads to formation of external electric current. The calculations and satellite data show that DC electric field in the ionosphere can reach the magnitudes 10 to 20 mV/m. The ground-based observations did not reveal any significant long- term (1 to 10 days) electric field disturbances within earthquake area at the distances of tens to hundreds km from epicenter. The field limitation on the Earth surface is caused by feedback mechanism between excited electric field and the causal external current. The effect of limitation of the vertical electric field magnitude on the ground creates significant advantage for satellite monitoring of seismic related electric field disturbances as compared to ground- based observations.

We tried to find the answers on the following questions: 1. What plasma and electromagnetic processes can be connected with the enhancement of DC electric field in the ionosphere? Answer. If DC electric field exceeds some threshold value of the order of 10 mV/m then the following effects are appeared: - AGW instability and horizontal ionosphere conductivity irregularities; - The field - align electric currents and plasma density irregularities stretched along geomagnetic field lines; - Whistler duct in the ionosphere and the magnetosphere; - Electromagnetic ELF emissions in the ionosphere; - ULF geomagnetic field oscillations on the Earth surface. - Lower ionosphere disturbances and sporadic E-layer formation. - Lower ionosphere disturbances and sporadic E-layer formation. - Possibly lightning discharges appearance. 2. What physical processes lead to enhancement of DC electric field in the ionosphere? Answer. We considered one of the possible mechanisms. It is connected with the formation of additional external electric current in the global atmosphere - ionosphere current circuit due to vertical turbulent transport of the charge aerosols in the near ground level. - Possibly lightning discharges appearance. 2. What physical processes lead to enhancement of DC electric field in the ionosphere? Answer. We considered one of the possible mechanisms. It is connected with the formation of additional external electric current in the global atmosphere - ionosphere current circuit due to vertical turbulent transport of the charge aerosols in the near ground level.