Very low frequency

About: Very low frequency is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1540 publications have been published within this topic receiving 24233 citations. The topic is also known as: VLF.

Early/fast VLF events produced by electron density changes associated with sprite halos

Abstract: [1] The magnitudes of scattered fields produced during early/fast very low frequency (VLF) events observed at 13 closely spaced (∼65 km) sites are compared with those expected for sprite halo disturbances using a numerical model of wave propagation within the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. Three different early/fast events of varying magnitudes are analyzed using three different nighttime ambient lower ionospheric electron density profiles. The electron density disturbances associated with sprite-halo events are determined using a full-wave electromagnetic (FWEM) model. Observed scattered field amplitudes of typical (VLF amplitude changes of 0.2 dB 1 dB) are found to be within a factor of seven for peak currents of causative lightning based on NLDN. However, in previous studies, some sprite-producing lightning flashes have exhibited large slow-tail components, indicating substantial continuing currents and implying charge removal up to 2–3 times larger than that inferred from the peak current reported by NLDN. For the cases discussed in this paper, scattered field calculations using disturbances caused by 2–3 times larger charge removal are found to be within a factor of two of the measured values. VLF scattering from electron density changes associated with sprite halos thus appear to be the underlying cause of at least some of the VLF perturbations observed as early/fast events.

Modeling of very low frequency motions during RIPEX

Abstract: Numerical computations are used to explain the presence of very low frequency motions (VLFs), with frequencies less than 0.004 Hz, in the rip current velocity signals observed during the Rip-current field Experiment (RIPEX) field experiment. Observations show that the VLF motions are most intense within the surfzone and then quickly taper off in the offshore direction. By comparing computed VLF intensity (URMS,vlf) distributions in both the cross-shore and alongshore direction with observations in a qualitative sense, the most important contributions to the VLF dynamics are established. VLF motions at neighboring rip-channels are seen to interact in the computations, with stronger surfzone intensity for increasing bathymetric variation. The intermittent forcing by spatially varying wave groups is essential in obtaining the correct URMS,vlf distribution in the cross-shore direction, suggesting this is the predominant mechanism responsible for the generation of the VLF motions observed during RIPEX. Computations also suggest that VLF motions can occasionally propagate offshore but are mostly confined to the surfzone corresponding to surfzone eddies. A quantitative comparison shows good correspondence between model computations and measurements of URMS,vlf with a model skill of O(0.7), with generally increased (decreased) URMS,vlf during mean low (high) water levels.

Detection and significance of a discrete very low frequency rhythm in RR interval variability in chronic congestive heart failure.

Abstract: Although in advanced chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) very low frequency (< 0.04 Hz, VLF) oscillations are prominent, the clinical importance and the physiologic basis of these rhythms have not been elucidated. To investigate the physiologic determinants of the VLF rhythms in RR interval variability, we studied 36 patients with stable, moderate to severe CHF (33 men, age: 58 +/- 8 years, ejection fraction 25 +/- 10%, peak oxygen consumption 18.1 +/- 4.6 ml/kg/min) and 12 age- and sex-matched controls using autoregressive spectral analysis of RR interval, blood pressure, and respiratory signals during controlled conditions. We quantified low frequency (LF) (0.04 to 0.15 Hz), high frequency (HF) (0.15 to 0.40 Hz), VLF, and total power (0 to 0.5 Hz), and calculated the coherence between systolic blood pressure and RR interval variability within each band. Peripheral chemosensitivity was assessed by the ventilatory response to hypoxia using transient inhalation of pure nitrogen. The influence of transient inactivation of peripheral chemoreceptors on the VLF rhythm was investigated by exposing 6 patients to hyperoxic (60% oxygen) conditions for 20 minutes. Twenty-three patients (64%) with CHF, but no controls, had a discrete VLF rhythm (0.019 +/- 0.008 Hz) in RR variability. The presence of VLF rhythm was not related to any difference in clinical parameters (etiology, New York Heart Association class, ejection fraction, oxygen uptake) but rather to a different pattern in RR interval and blood pressure variability: lower LF power (2.8 +/- 1.6 ms2 natural logarithm [ln]) compared either to patients without VLF (4.0 +/- 1.3 ms2 ln) or to controls (5.9 +/- 0.7 ms2 ln), higher percentage of power within VLF band (86.3 +/- 8.3% vs 77.5 +/- 7.9% and 61.5 +/- 14.1%) and a markedly impaired coherence between RR interval and systolic blood pressure variability within the LF band (0.26 +/- 0.10 vs 0.42 +/- 0.18 and 0.63 +/- 0.15, in patients with vs without VLF peak and controls, respectively). Patients with VLF had significantly increased hypoxic chemosensitivity, and hyperoxic conditions were able to decrease VLF power and abolish the VLF rhythm in 5 of 6 patients with CHF. Discrete VLF oscillations in RR variability are common in patients with advanced CHF and appear to be related to severely impaired autonomic regulation and suppression of baroreceptor function, with enhancement of hypoxic chemosensitivity. We hypothesize that this rhythm represents an enhanced chemoreflex harmonic oscillation in CHF patients, which may have application for arrhythmogenesis.

Chorus wave-normal statistics in the Earth's radiation belts from ray tracing technique

Abstract: . Discrete ELF/VLF (Extremely Low Frequency/Very Low Frequency) chorus emissions are one of the most intense electromagnetic plasma waves observed in radiation belts and in the outer terrestrial magnetosphere. These waves play a crucial role in the dynamics of radiation belts, and are responsible for the loss and the acceleration of energetic electrons. The objective of our study is to reconstruct the realistic distribution of chorus wave-normals in radiation belts for all magnetic latitudes. To achieve this aim, the data from the electric and magnetic field measurements onboard Cluster satellite are used to determine the wave-vector distribution of the chorus signal around the equator region. Then the propagation of such a wave packet is modeled using three-dimensional ray tracing technique, which employs K. Ronnmark's WHAMP to solve hot plasma dispersion relation along the wave packet trajectory. The observed chorus wave distributions close to waves source are first fitted to form the initial conditions which then propagate numerically through the inner magnetosphere in the frame of the WKB approximation. Ray tracing technique allows one to reconstruct wave packet properties (electric and magnetic fields, width of the wave packet in k-space, etc.) along the propagation path. The calculations show the spatial spreading of the signal energy due to propagation in the inhomogeneous and anisotropic magnetized plasma. Comparison of wave-normal distribution obtained from ray tracing technique with Cluster observations up to 40° latitude demonstrates the reliability of our approach and applied numerical schemes.

Universality of slow earthquakes in the very low frequency band

Abstract: Deep tectonic tremors have been observed together with signals in the very low frequency (VLF) band from 0.02 to 0.05 Hz, which have been identified as VLF events in limited regions of subduction zones. By stacking broadband seismograms relative to the timing of tremors, we have detected similar signals in all regions where tremors occur in western Japan. These signals are inverted to obtain the moment tensor, and the fault-normal and slip vectors are generally consistent with the geometry of the plate interface and the direction of plate motion. Therefore, these signals are probably radiated by shear slip on the plate interface. The ratio between the seismic energy rate estimated from the tremors and seismic moment rate in the VLF band is almost proportional, with a proportionality constant (i.e., scaled energy) of around 5 × 10−10. The spatial distribution of scaled energy may reflect spatial variations in the frequency-dependent characteristics of slow deformation.