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Atmosphere
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Understanding Space Physics and Atmospheric Electricity with VLF/ELF Signals
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Understanding Space Physics and Atmospheric Electricity with VLF/ELF Signals

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Upper Atmosphere".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 5605

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Masashi Hayakawa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Hayakawa Institute of Seismo Electromagnetics, Co., Ltd. (Hi-SEM), UEC Alliance Center #521, 1-1-1 Kojima-cho, Chofu 182-0026, Tokyo, Japan
2. Advanced Wireless & Communication Research Center (AWCC), The University of Electro-Communications, 1-5-1, Chofugaoka, Chofu 182-8585, Japan
Interests: atmospheric electricity; space physics; ionosphere monitoring; VLF/ELF wave propagation; lithosphere-atmosphere-lithosphere coupling; remote sensing
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Prof. Alexander P. Nickolaenko

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Usikov Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Ukraine), Kharkov, Ukraine
Interests: ionosphere; electromagnetic manifestations of earthquakes; schumann resonance; atmospherics; elf radio propagation
Prof. Dr. Xuemin Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Earthquake Forecasting, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100036, China
Interests: seismo-electromagnetics; electromagnetic satellite; plasma physics; radio wave propagation; seismo-ionospheric physics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yasuhide Hobara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Earth Environment Research Station, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications (UEC), Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
Interests: total lightning; space plasma; ionospheric perturbations; seismic activity; satellite observation; GLIMS; space weather; wind gust; extreme weather; VLF/ELF; whistler; ionosphere; DEMETER; lightning charge moment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Atmosphere aims to gather high-quality original research articles and reviews on the topic of “Understanding space physics and atmospheric electricity with VLF/ELF signals”, with an emphasis on the essential importance of VLF(very low frequency, 3-30kHz)/ELF (extremely low frequency, 1Hz-3kHz) wave phenomena in a wide range of scientific fields from astrophysics, space physics, ionospheric physics, atmospheric electricity, and seismo-electromagnetics.

We would like to invite very active scientists working on VLF/ELF waves to submit their papers (either original or review) to show the readers what kinds of perspectives are going on in different science fields. Astrophysical events such as gamma ray bursts can be monitored with the use of VLF/LF subionospheric propagation date. In space physics, VLF/ELF emissions are one of the most essential aspects in magnetospheric physics, studying wave-particle interactions, and their ionospheric consequence of particle precipitations (Trimpi effects) can be investigated with subionospheric VLF/LF signals. Ionospheric dynamics and perturbations can be monitored only with use of VLF/LF subionospheric signals and ELF/VLF/LF sferics. Next, there are various kinds of wave phenomena associated with atmospheric electricity or atmospheric science. ELF sferics (ELF transients) are the consequence of transient luminous events (TLEs) in the mesosphere suggesting the coupling between the atmosphere and ionosphere. Another Schumann resonance (SR) is the global resonance in the Earth-ionosphere cavity due to the excitation of global lightning activities, so SR can be used effectively to investigate the global lightning activity as well as the lower ionospheric condition. Finaly, a recent subject is the wave phenomena related with earthquakes (EQs); so-called seismo-electromagnetics. In this particular field, there have been observed seismogenic VLF/LF and ELF emissions as a precursor to EQs as an indicator of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling. Any other papers on VLF/ELF signals are welcome.

The above whole study area is multifaceted and involves several types of measurements (ground- and satellite-based) and analysis methods. For the above reasons, we would like to invite you to submit your recent articles, experimental and theoretical research papers, and case and statistical studies, with respect to the topics described above.

Prof. Dr. Masashi Hayakawa
Prof. Alexander P. Nickolaenko
Prof. Dr. Xuemin Zhang
Prof. Dr. Yasuhide Hobara
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • atmospheric electricity
  • VLF (very-low-frequency, 3–30 kHz)/ELF (extremely low-frequency, 1 Hz–3 kHz) wave
  • space physics
  • ionosphere
  • astrophysics
  • sesismo-electromagnetics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3503 KB  
Article
Evaluation of the Quasi-Pre-Seismic Schumann Resonance Signals in the Greek Area During Five Years of Observations (2020–2025)
by Vasilis Tritakis, Ioannis Contopoulos, Janusz Mlynarczyk, Evangelos Chaniadakis and Jerzy Kubisz
Atmosphere 2025, 16(11), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16111251 (registering DOI) - 31 Oct 2025
Abstract
The Greek territory and the surrounding marine area constitute an excellent laboratory for studying moderate-magnitude earthquakes (4–6 M), as such earthquakes occur very frequently in this region. Ten years ago, it was proposed that there is some kind of relation between earthquakes and [...] Read more.
The Greek territory and the surrounding marine area constitute an excellent laboratory for studying moderate-magnitude earthquakes (4–6 M), as such earthquakes occur very frequently in this region. Ten years ago, it was proposed that there is some kind of relation between earthquakes and unusual Schumann Resonance signals one to twenty days prior to an impending earthquake. During the last five years (2020–2025), a fairly large collection of signals has been gathered that may be considered as precursory seismic signals. Unfortunately, individual case studies overestimate their contribution to the final event and may lead to unjustified ‘extended pictures’ of the phenomenon. In the present article, we systematically attempt to evaluate these signals by examining them as a whole, rather than individually as in case studies. We confirmed that while case studies are a reasonable way to start a research project, they do not guarantee the final result. In our case, while individual studies were very hopeful, the present integrated study led to several unresolved issues that need to be addressed. The results of our work will help to determine whether these signals represent a significant part of the broader LAIC scenario, which is currently the only reliable suggestion for triggering and predicting earthquakes, or whether the origin of these signals should be sought elsewhere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Space Physics and Atmospheric Electricity with VLF/ELF Signals)
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15 pages, 2365 KB  
Article
Experimental Study of the Impact of Thunderstorms with Lightning Discharges of Different Polarity on the Ionospheric Parameters
by Valentina Antonova, Vadim Lutsenko and Galina Gordiyenko
Atmosphere 2025, 16(11), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16111248 - 30 Oct 2025
Abstract
The study was based on 11 years of measurements of ionospheric parameters and atmospheric electric fields reflecting the polarity of lightning discharges and recording return strokes. The response of ionospheric parameters to thunderstorms with lightning discharges of negative and positive polarity under quiet [...] Read more.
The study was based on 11 years of measurements of ionospheric parameters and atmospheric electric fields reflecting the polarity of lightning discharges and recording return strokes. The response of ionospheric parameters to thunderstorms with lightning discharges of negative and positive polarity under quiet solar and geomagnetic conditions was considered. No changes in the dynamics of ionospheric parameters are observed during thunderstorms with lightning discharges of negative polarity. Variation in the daily course of total electron content and the appearance of wave-like disturbances with a period of 2–5 h are recorded during thunderstorms with lightning discharges of positive polarity. More small-scale disturbances were also detected. Intensification of the sporadic layer was observed in ~70% of the thunderstorm events with positive lightning discharges. A decrease in the height of the sporadic layer Es (h’Es) by 10 km and an increase in the level of radio wave absorption in the D region of the ionosphere were recorded. The experimental results of the study indicate that the polarity of lightning discharges and electromagnetic effects play a decisive role in the process of thunderstorms affecting the ionosphere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Space Physics and Atmospheric Electricity with VLF/ELF Signals)
20 pages, 6414 KB  
Article
D- and F-Region Ionospheric Response to the Severe Geomagnetic Storm of April 2023
by Arnab Sen, Sujay Pal, Bakul Das and Sushanta K. Mondal
Atmosphere 2025, 16(6), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16060716 - 13 Jun 2025
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Abstract
This study investigates the impact on the Earth’s ionosphere of a severe geomagnetic storm (Dst ∼ −212 nT) that began on 23 April 2023 at around 17:37 UT according to very low-frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) or low-frequency (LF, 30–300 [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact on the Earth’s ionosphere of a severe geomagnetic storm (Dst ∼ −212 nT) that began on 23 April 2023 at around 17:37 UT according to very low-frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) or low-frequency (LF, 30–300 kHz) radio signals and ionosonde data. We analyze VLF/LF signals received by SuperSID monitors located in mid-latitude (Europe) and low-latitude (South America, Colombia) areas across nine different propagation paths in the Northern Hemisphere. Mid-latitude regions exhibited a daytime amplitude perturbation, mostly an increase, by ∼3–5 dB during the storm period, with a subsequent recovery after 7–8 days post April 23. In contrast, signals received in low-latitude regions (UTP, Colombia) did not show significant variation during the storm-disturbed days. We also observe that the 3-hour average of foF2 data declined by up to 3 MHz on April 23 and April 24 at the European Digisonde stations. However, no significant variation in foF2 was observed at the low-latitude Digisonde stations in Brazil. Both the VLF and ionosonde data exhibited anomalies during the storm period in the European regions, confirming that both D- and F-region ionospheric perturbation was caused by the severe geomagnetic storm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Space Physics and Atmospheric Electricity with VLF/ELF Signals)
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16 pages, 2985 KB  
Article
Impact of Solar Activity on Schumann Resonance: Model and Experiment
by Alexander Pavlovich Nickolaenko, Masashi Hayakawa and Oleksandr Koloskov
Atmosphere 2025, 16(6), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16060648 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 4080
Abstract
Using Schumann resonance (SR) records from the Antarctic, we evaluate the impact of the solar activity on the global ionosphere over the period from 2002 to 2024. The updated vertical profile of the middle atmosphere conductivity is applied. The pivoted upper part of [...] Read more.
Using Schumann resonance (SR) records from the Antarctic, we evaluate the impact of the solar activity on the global ionosphere over the period from 2002 to 2024. The updated vertical profile of the middle atmosphere conductivity is applied. The pivoted upper part of profiles above the knee altitude is adjusted to represent different levels of solar activity. The electric (lower) hC and the magnetic (upper) hL characteristic heights, the propagation constant ν(f) of the extremely low frequency (ELF) radio waves, and the basic resonance frequency f1 are computed for the profiles corresponding to the solar maximum, moderate, and minimum activity conditions by using the full-wave solution in the form of the Riccati differential equation. Model data are compared with experimental observations at the Ukrainian Antarctic Station of “Akademik Vernadsky” (geographic coordinates: 65.25° S and 64.25° W). The following results are discussed: (i) Solar activity modifies the upper characteristic height hL of the ionosphere by ±1 km over the 11-year cycle; (ii) Equations were obtained linking the current level of solar activity with the basic SR frequency, with the magnetic characteristic height, and with the ELF propagation constant; (iii) Based on SR monitoring within two complete solar cycles, a practical rule is proposed: an increase in the index of solar activity I10.7 by ~150 units raises the first SR frequency by ~0.1 Hz and elevates the magnetic characteristic height by ~2.5 km. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Space Physics and Atmospheric Electricity with VLF/ELF Signals)
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