Quasi-periodic very low frequency emissions, very low frequency chorus, and geomagnetic Pc4 pulsations (Event on April 3, 2011)

Abstract

The results of an analysis of ground-based observations of very low frequency (VLF) emissions in Scandinavia (L ∼ 5) in April 2011 are discussed. A detailed study is conducted of an non-typical event (April 3, 2011) of simultaneous generation of VLF chorus at frequencies below 3 kHz and quasi-periodic VLF emissions (QP) in the band of 4–6 kHz, which were not discrete emissions but consisted of separate short (about 20 s) bursts of hiss. It is shown that these emissions were mainly characterized by right-hand polarization, which indicates the location of the exit point of waves from the ionosphere near the point of ground observations. Based on an analysis of the spectral characteristics of emissions, it is concluded that the generation regions of chorus and QP emissions were located at different L shells. The appearance of QP emissions coincided with the excitation of resonance geomagnetic pulsations of the Pc4 range in the magnetosphere with a period that was close to the quasi-period of repetition of spectral forms in QP emissions. However, based on the available data, it is not possible to conclude that these geomagnetic pulsations caused the quasi-periodic generation of bursts of VLF hiss. The time shift between the peaks of QP and geomagnetic pulsations was inconsistent and varied from one burst of hiss to another. It is suggested that the discussed QP emissions were a result of the development of self-oscillations in the Earth’s radiation belts.