Anomalous propagation of VHF radiowaves behind the horizon in the seismic region

Abstract

A theory of electromagnetic radiation generation by random electric discharges in the troposphere and VHF radiowave scattering by these discharges has been developed. The discharge model, which makes it possible to calculate the spatiotemporal distribution of the discharge channel conductivity depending on the electric current value in this discharge, has been obtained. The electromagnetic radiation spectrum in the troposphere occupied by random discharges has been calculated. VHF electromagnetic wave scattering by random electric discharges in the troposphere has been considered. Equations have been derived, and the method for calculating the average value of the electromagnetic wave field scattered by random discharges has been developed. The calculations indicated that the scattered wave field amplitude is much larger than the diffraction wave field amplitude behind the horizon. The theoretical results agree with the observations of the electromagnetic radiation and VHF transmitter signals behind the horizon relative to the earthquake epicenter during the earthquake preparation.