23 July 2004

Wanderings
Number 76

Ralph J. Coppola

r_j_coppola@hotmail.com

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Feature

In past Wanderings, I listed links to various Very Low Frequency (VLF) sites. Some of these are repeated in this feature along with some other interesting links. Why? Because, the detection, recording and study of these low frequency signals present an inexpensive way for you to get into real DIY science. To get started, all you need is a computer, sound card, an antenna and some free software. Read on ...

Note … Like I stated last week, it's best to get a "junker" computer to play around with, instead of using the family's.

I've listed the Radio Waves Below 22 kHz site, several times in the past. This is an excellent place to start your VLF explorations.

The LW RDF PROJECTwill introduce you into how to use your sound card as a VLF receiver.

Science @ Netfold is another sound card site.

NASA's Space Weather page allows you to listen to sferics, tweeks, whistlers and other VLF real time radio sounds over the Internet, from their Marshall Space Flight Center's INSPIRE VLF radio receiver.

The SFERICS site has been set up by Dick Fergus and is dedicated to Atmospheric Electromagnetic Radiation as Related to Severe Weather and Tornados

NASA's Project INSPIREis a non-profit scientific, educational project whose objective is to bring the excitement of observing natural and manmade radio waves in the audio region to high school students.

The Longwave Club of America devotes a portion of their Internet site to Natural Radio & Propagation.

Peter Schmalkoke's Radio Research & Inventor's Site contains an interesting article (Project 5) on Scott Fusare's work in constructing a DIY Schumann Resonance Receiver. He also shows a novel way to simulate, electronically, high value resistors.

Hans Michlmayr constructed a magnetic antenna for ULF signal detection that is similar to the one described in the May 1996 Amateur Scientist --- Detecting Natural Electromagnetic Waves .

Further ULF/VLF resources may be found on Hans Michlmayr AMATEUR RADIO ASTRONOMY site.

The SID-GRB@home site shows us how to build a simple VLF radio receiver to detect sudden ionospheric disturbances x-rays from solar flares or gamma ray bursts.

The Extremely Low Frequency Research And Development Group (Elfrad) a goal is to of install at least one Elfrad receiving site per 1000 square kilometers, in every country Earth. These sites will be linked together to provide real time information concerning the source, magnitude, and nature of the ELF signals.

Eric Vogel's Ulf--Elf--Vlf Projects page has a good selection of ULF--ELF--VLF Projects.

The VLF / ELF / ULF Research in Arizona site is another extensive resource of VLF, ELF and ULF Research.

VLF-ELF form NE Holland - A study of sounds in the Atmosphere.

Have a visit to Stephen P. McGreevy's Realm of Natural VLF Radio Phenomena site.

The Stanford VLF Group studies a number of science questions related to the occurrence and propagation of very low frequency (VLF) radio waves in the Earth's low altitude (0-1000 km) and high altitude (1000-100,000 km) environment

101science.com has a page --- Digital Signal Processing (DSP) A Crash Course. If you're going to look at their other offerings you should pack a lunch as they have links to over 20K items.

Wanderings

18 September 2004 --- Join the Ocean Conservancy in their 19th annual International Coastal Cleanup. This is the world's largest one-day volunteer effort on behalf of the marine environment. Not near an ocean? No problem, local ponds, streams, rivers and lakes all count. Guess what trash made the " Top 10" list.

Paul Arthur Titze's Australia Astro Web Site contains, among a host of other features, a page dedicated to Amateur Astronomy.

Use the Internet to log into a remote telescope and take your own CCD images for $60US.

We don't hear too much, these days, about plagues of locusts. I guess that they are no longer newsworthy, but they are still occurringand the locusts are on the move.

NASA's Earth Observatory is an Internet e-publication providing the public with freely-accessible satellite imagery and scientific information about our home planet.

The Hubble repair controversy is still in the news.

Brazilian scientists have discovered a species of ratfish (Hydrolagus metallanasi) that has been swimming the seas since dinosaurs walked the Earth.

Many of us live near a local community center. It could be a dedicated building, a church hall or even a school. These centers serve many of our educational, social and recreational requirements. But the residents of Ahmedabad, Navrangpura, India, have taken this concept up several notches. They have established The Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre. Have a look. All I can say is, WOW!

Here is another collection of Physics and Astronomy Java applets.

The Kids Room

Would you like a job with long hours, no pay and unlimited experience? If so, then apply for an intern position at The Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre. The Center is a registered charity dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wild animals.

AquaMOOSE 3D is a desktop 3D environment that lets you play with the behavior of parametric equations in three dimensions. You can create things that are beautiful both mathematically and artistically.

BioLab Dissection and Genetics Software is an interactive CD-ROM series that was created by teachers. The series contains various virtual dissections and a genetics fruit fly lab.

Stupid game! --- 8-)

Suppliers

Being listed here does not constitute an endorsement by SAS or me of any information, product or service.

Some amateur projects will require the use of high value resistors which, unfortunately, are not available at the local RadioShack. Try Digikey if you require a 1000 Meg resistor ( $7.80US each). Check with Ohmite for suppliers of other Ohmite high value resistors.

From The Far Side

Is this a sick dog or a cross between a hyena and a coyote? Experts are baffled by the mystery animal that is roaming around Baltimore County, Maryland.

As a result of their battles with UFO's the Soviet Army built a secret laboratory to research flying objects