The question, “What is the Earth’s frequency?” refers to the Schumann Resonance, a specific global electromagnetic phenomenon. This resonance is a set of extremely low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves. It provides a continuous background hum to the Earth’s electromagnetic field, representing a standing wave pattern in the atmosphere.
Defining the Schumann Resonance
The Schumann Resonance is a set of spectral peaks in the extremely low frequency portion of the Earth’s electromagnetic field spectrum. German physicist Winfried Otto Schumann first predicted this phenomenon in 1952.
While Schumann provided the mathematical framework, Nikola Tesla had earlier hinted at the possibility of global terrestrial electrical resonance in his work on wireless energy transmission. The Schumann Resonance is characterized as a standing electromagnetic wave. This means the waves have a fixed, repeating pattern that encircles the planet, acting as a natural rhythm for the planet’s electromagnetic environment.
The Earth-Ionosphere Cavity
The physical mechanism that sustains the Schumann Resonance involves the Earth-Ionosphere cavity. This cavity is the space between the Earth’s surface and the lower edge of the ionosphere, which begins at an altitude of about 60 to 100 kilometers. Both the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere containing charged particles, act as conductive boundaries.
This arrangement creates an enclosed space that behaves like a spherical waveguide. Electromagnetic waves become trapped and repeatedly bounce between these two conductive surfaces. The primary power source that excites and sustains these standing waves is global lightning activity.
At any given moment, approximately 2,000 thunderstorms are active around the world, collectively producing about 50 lightning flashes every second. Each lightning strike acts as a natural transmitter, injecting a pulse of electromagnetic energy into the cavity. Only the waves with the correct wavelength, which fit perfectly around the Earth’s circumference, constructively interfere and build up into the sustained Schumann Resonance.
Characteristics of the Base Frequency
The most prominent and lowest frequency of the Schumann Resonance is called the fundamental mode, which is approximately 7.83 Hz. This frequency is classified as an Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) radio wave. The fundamental mode represents a standing wave whose full wavelength is equal to the circumference of the Earth.
The resonance also includes a series of higher-frequency peaks called harmonics. These harmonics occur at predictable intervals, much like overtones on a musical instrument. The first few harmonics are typically found near 14.3 Hz, 20.8 Hz, 27.3 Hz, and 33.8 Hz.
These frequencies are extremely weak, and specialized instruments are required to measure them globally. Although the base frequency of 7.83 Hz is stable over long periods, the intensity and exact values of the frequencies are not perfectly constant.
Factors Influencing Frequency Variation
The 7.83 Hz base frequency and its harmonics are subject to fluctuations due to changes within the Earth-Ionosphere cavity. The primary factor influencing these variations is the condition of the ionosphere, specifically its height and conductivity. Changes in the ionosphere are often linked to solar activity.
Solar flares and coronal mass ejections increase the ionization of the upper atmosphere, causing the lower boundary of the ionosphere to become more compressed and conductive. This change in the cavity’s size directly results in slight shifts in the observed resonance frequencies. Variations in ionospheric height also show a predictable daily cycle, with a different resonance during the day compared to the night.
Another factor is the distribution of global lightning activity, which acts as the energy source. Seasonal and daily changes in the location and intensity of major thunderstorm centers cause fluctuations in the power and amplitude of the measured resonance.