A Review of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Wave Phenomena Related to Tropospheric-Ionospheric Coupling Mechanisms

• Published in: Space science reviews Vol. 168; no. 1-4; pp. 551 - 593
• Main Authors: Simões, Fernando, Pfaff, Robert, Berthelier, Jean-Jacques, Klenzing, Jeffrey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Aeronomy; Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics; Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospheric electricity; Atmospheric sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Earthquakes; Electrification; Electromagnetic radiation; Exact sciences and technology; Geophysics; Gravity waves; Ionosphere; Lightning; Meteorology; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Propagation; Seismic activity; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Troposphere; Water vapor; Wave propagation; Wave propagation; Ionosphere dynamics; Aeronomy; Lightning; Troposphere-ionosphere coupling; Alfven waves; Plasma physics; Clouds; Charge separation; Troposphere; Atmospheric disturbance; Transients; Transient luminous events; Dusts; Dynamics; Earthquakes; Electromagnetic waves; Coupling; Gravity waves; Surface phenomena; Reviews; Inverse problems; Atmospheric chemistry; Electromagnetic wave propagation; Thermodynamic parameter; Steam; Aerosols; Electrification; Models; Resonance; Particle precipitation; Altitude; Atmospheric electricity
• ISSN: 0038-6308; 1572-9672
• DOI: 10.1007/s11214-011-9854-0

Investigation of coupling mechanisms between the troposphere and the ionosphere requires a multidisciplinary approach involving several branches of atmospheric sciences, from meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, and fulminology to aeronomy, plasma physics, and space weather. In this work, we review low frequency electromagnetic wave observations in the Earth-ionosphere cavity from a troposphere-ionosphere coupling perspective. We discuss electromagnetic wave generation, propagation, and resonance phenomena, considering atmospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric sources, from lightning and transient luminous events at low altitude to Alfvén waves and particle precipitation related to solar and magnetospheric processes. We review ionospheric processes as well as surface and space weather phenomena that drive the coupling between the troposphere and the ionosphere. Effects of aerosols, water vapor distribution, thermodynamic parameters, and cloud charge separation and electrification processes on atmospheric electricity and electromagnetic waves are reviewed. Regarding the role of the lower boundary of the cavity, we review transient surface phenomena, including seismic activity, earthquakes, volcanic processes and dust electrification. The role of surface perturbations and atmospheric gravity waves in ionospheric dynamics is also briefly addressed. We summarize analytical and numerical tools and techniques to model low frequency electromagnetic wave propagation and to solve inverse problems and outline in a final section a few challenging subjects that are important to advance our understanding of tropospheric-ionospheric coupling.