The classic approach to calculate the electrostatic field penetration, from the Earth's surface into the ionosphere, is to consider the following equation ∇·(σ·∇Φ)=0 where σ and Φ are the electric conductivity and the potential of the electric field, respectively. The penetration characteristics strongly depend on the conductivities of atmosphere and ionosphere. To estimate the electrostatic field penetration up to the orbital height of DEMETER satellite (about 700 km) the role of the ionosphere must be analyzed. It is done with help of a special upper boundary condition for the atmospheric electric field. In this paper, we investigate the influence of the ionospheric conductivity on the electrostatic field penetration from the Earth's surface into the ionosphere. We show that the magnitude of the ionospheric electric field penetrated from the ground is inverse proportional to the value of the ionospheric Pedersen conductance. So its typical value in day-time is about hundred times less than in night-time.

Taking the 2018 Ms6.9 Indonesia earthquake as a case study, the ionospheric perturbations in very low frequency (VLF) transmitters recorded by China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) were mainly investigated, as well as the multi parameters of the plasma and electromagnetic field. The characteristics of electron density (Ne), GPS TEC, ULF electric field, ion drift velocity, and ionosphere height were extracted and compared with the features of the signal-noise ratio (SNR) from VLF transmitters of NWC at the southern hemisphere and JJI at the northern hemisphere. Most disturbances in VLF radio waves occurred along the orbits near the epicenter within 10 days before the earthquake. Along these orbits, we observed simultaneous modulations in the Ne and ULF electric field, as well as the changed ion drifting directions. There was also high spatial correspondence between both SNR and ionospheric height anomalies over the epicentral and its magnetic conjugate regions. Combined with the multi observations, these results suggest that the genesis of perturbations in signals emitted by VLF transmitters on satellite was more likely related to the overlapped electric field in the preparation area of the earthquake.

We investigate the VLF emissions observed by the Instrument Champ Electrique (ICE) experiment onboard the DEMETER micro-satellite. We analyze intensity level variation 10 days before and after the occurrence of l'Aquila earthquake (EQ). We found a clear decrease of the VLF received signal related to ionospheric whistler mode (mainly Chorus emission) and to signal transmitted by the DFY VLF station in Germany, few days (more than one week) before the earthquake. The VLF power spectral density decreases of more than two orders of magnitude until the EQ, and it recovers to normal levels just after the EQ occurrence. The geomagnetic activity is principally weak four days before EQ and increases again one day before l'Aquila seismic event. Our results are discussed in the frame of short- and long-terms earthquakes prediction focusing on the crucial role of the magnetic field of the Earth.

Seismogenic models have been recently proposed to explain precursors before earthquakes occurrences. Those models refer to physical processes linking the lithosphere, the atmosphere, and the ionosphere. We analyze in this work the curl‐free current model describing the current flow from the lithosphere to the ionosphere through the atmosphere. We use a numerical simulation based on the finite element method to derive the current between the ground and the ionosphere. We have shown that the curl‐free approximation of the atmospheric current density leads to significant and unpredictable distortions of the solutions of the electrical conductivity. Hence, it incorrectly expands the ionospheric disturbed region associated to lithospheric currents. It is shown that horizontally homogeneous vertical underground external currents cannot create currents from ground to the atmosphere.

In this paper we analysed sudden phase anomalies (SPAs) of VLF–LF signals recorded at Graz (Austria), Birr (Ireland) and Moscow (Russia) stations during two strong solar flares in September 2017. The first X-class 9.3 flare occurred on 6 September at 12:02 UT, and the second X-class 8.2 flare was observed on 10 September 2017 at 16:06 UT. Data from seven transmitters in a frequency range between 20 and 45 kHz are used for the analysis. The SPAs were observed in all middle-latitude paths (differently orientated) with path lengths from 350 to 7000 km. Solar X-ray burst data were taken from GOES satellite observations in the wavelength band of 0.05–0.4 nm. It was found that (i) the amplitude of SPAs in different paths varies from 10 to 282^∘, and (ii) the correlation between the amplitudes of SPAs, the lengths of paths and the signal frequency is weak. The change in effective height of reflection due to lowering of the reflecting layer during the flares was found to be about 12 km for the first event and about 9 km for the second event. Spectral analysis of the X-ray and LF data, filtered in the range between 5 s and 16 min, showed that the LF signal spectra are very similar to X-ray spectra. Maxima of both X-ray and LF spectra are in 2–16 min interval.

Processes and threats related to natural hazards play an important role in the evolution of the Earth and in human history. The purpose of this study is to investigate magnetic field variations measured at low Earth orbit (LEO) altitudes possibly associated with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and artificial outbursts. We focus on two missions with well equipped magnetometer packages, the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) and ESA’s three spacecraft Swarm fleet. After a natural hazards survey in the context of this satellites, and consideration of external magnetospheric and solar influences, together with spacecraft interferences, wavelet analysed spatio-temporal patterns in ionospheric magnetic field variations related to atmospheric waves are examined in detail. We provide assessment of the links between specific lithospheric or near surface sources and ionospheric magnetic field measurements. For some of the diverse events the achieved statistical results show a change in the pattern between pre- and post-event periods, we show there is an increase in the fluctuations for the higher frequency (smaller scales) components. Our results are relevant to studies which establish a link between space based magnetic field measurements and natural hazards.