AWDA Project

  • We have started a project to detect whistlers with ground-based VLF measurements. We are part of the AWDA (Automatic Whistler Detector and Analyzer) project. This network covers low, mid and high magnetic latitudes including conjugate locations. It has been initiated by Dr. Janos Lichtenberger (Hungary). Worldwide, in 2022, 27 antennas are in operation and 15 are planned/in construction. The main goals of this project are to build a statistical analysis of whistlers observed in Belgium, to derive density information along the magnetic field lines and in particular in the plasmasphere, and finaly to compare with density in-situ observations made by the Cluster satellites.

  • A VLF antenna has been installed in October 2010 in Humain, Belgium (Lat~50.11 N, Long~5.15 E), in order to detect whistlers and determine electron densities along propagation paths. This VLF antenna is made of two perpendicular magnetic loops, oriented North-South and East-West and with an area of approximately 50 square meters each. The hardware has been installed during winter 2010-2011.

  • We have installed another antenna at the Belgian Antarctic station Princess Elisabeth (Lat~71.57 S, Long~23.20 E) in January 2016, with the help of Dr. Janos Lichtenberger. This antenna is composed of two search coils, without a mast in order to withstand the weather at such latitudes.The antenna records whistlers automatically and the data are downloaded the following year.

 

Content manager: Fabien Darrouzet