Penetration of Schumann resonances into the upper ionosphere

Schumann resonances (SR) at ionospheric altitudes and in the atmosphere excited either by solitary lightning discharges or by the global thunderstorm activity, which is considered as Poisson stochastic process, are calculated and compared. The magnetic and electric resonant power spectra are investigated at low and high latitudes, for daytime and nighttime ionospheric parameters. We have analyzed the difference of spectral amplitudes and waves polarization on the ground surface and at the ionospheric altitudes. The calculated spectral amplitudes are in good agreement with the recent results detected by the electric sensors of the C/NOFS satellite. We have theoretically confirmed the feasibility of Schumann resonances observation by low orbiting satellites.

► Schumann resonances (SR) leakage into the upper ionosphere is theoretically shown.
► SR frequencies in the ionosphere are shown to be the same as on the ground.
► Our results are in good agreement with the C/NOFS satellite observations.
► We confirm the feasibility to monitor SR by low orbiting satellites.
► The model allows estimating the lightning produced SR at other planets.