ON THE

ON THE RELATION
RELATION BETWEEN
BETWEEN TELLURIC
TELLURIC CURRENTS
CURRENTS
AND THE
AND THE EARTH'S
EARTH’S MAGNETIC
MAGNETIC FIELD*
FIELD*

JAMES R.
JAMES R. WAITt
WAITt

ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
The validity
The validity of
of Cagniard's
Cagniard’s analysis
analysis of
of the
the behaviour
behaviour of of telluric
telluric earth
earth currents
currents is
isquestioned
questioned in in view
view
of the
of the fact
fact that
that the
the harmonic
harmonic components
components of of the
the electric
electric field
field and
and the
the magnetic
magnetic field
field tangential
tangential toto the
the
ground are
ground are only
only proportional
proportional to to one
one another
another ifif the
the fields
fields are
are sufficiently
sufficiently slowly
slowly varying
varying over
over the
the sur-
sur-
face of
face of the
the ground.
ground. His
His result
result is
is extended
extended to to include
include thethe effects
effects of
of aa layered
layered ground
ground with
with both
both con-
con-
ductivity and
ductivity and susceptibility
susceptibility variations.
variations. Finally
Finally the the corresponding
corresponding transient
transient problem
problem is is solved
solved for
for aa
two-layer horizontally
two-layer horizontally stratified
stratified earth.
earth.

In aa recent
In recent interesting
interesting andand important
important paper paper by by Cagniard
Cagniard (1953),
(19p,), the relation
the relation
between telluric
between telluric earth
earth currents
currents and and variation
variation of of the
the earth's
earth’s magnetic
magnetic field field is
is
studied. In
studied. In the
the present
present paper
paper the the validity
validity of of his
his results
results isis discussed
discussed and and several
several
extensions to
extensions to the
the theory
theory areare pointed
pointed out.
out.
The impedance
The impedance conceptconcept in in electromagnetism,
electromagnetism, as as first
first disclosed
disclosed so so lucidly
lucidly byby
Schelkunoff (1938),
Schelkunoff (1938), isis well
well suited
suited toto this
this type
type ofof problem.
problem. If If the
the electric
electric and and mag-
mag-
netic forces
netic forces tangential
tangential to to aa surface
surface SS at point PPare
at aa point mutually perpendicular,
are mutually perpendicular, the the
ratio of
ratio of the
the tangential
tangential electric
electric force
force toto the
the tangential
tangential magnetic
magnetic force force is is termed
termed
the field
the field impedance
impedance normal normal to to SS at P. In
at P. In general
general the
the tangential
tangential electric
electric and and mag-
mag-
netic forces
netic forces are
are not
not perpendicular
perpendicular so so that
that the
the field
field impedance
impedance does does not not exist;
exist; even
even
ifif itit does
doesexist,
exist, it
it may
may depend
depend uponupon thethe system
system of of sources
sourcesby by which
which the the fields
fields have
have
been set
been set up
up (Monteath,
(Monteath, 1951).1951).
Let the
Let the x,X, yy plane
plane bebe the
the boundary
boundary betweenbetween two two semi-infinite
semi-infinite homogeneous
homogeneous
media, the fields being set up by sources in the
media, the fields being set up by sources in the upper medium. It can be upper medium. It can be shown
shown
that in this plane the tangential electric fields E, and E, are
that in this plane the tangential electric fields Ex and Ey are related to the tangen- related to the tangen-
tial magnetic
tial magnetic fields
fields by
by
I
a2H,
-+2- + terms in y4, etc.
dxay >
and
a2H,
-++---- + terms in y+, etc.
ayax>
where, 'Yy == irTJ.Lw
where, iupw-- fJ.LW2
tpw2is is the
the intrinsic
intrinsic propagation
propagation constant
constant ofof the
the lower
lower medium
medium
and 'r]=iJ.Lw/'Y
and 7=&w/r isis its
its intrinsic
intrinsic characteristic
characteristic impedance.
impedance. TheThe constants
constants rT,
u, f,E, J.Lp
are the
are the conductivity,
conductivity, dielectricdielectric constant,
constant, and
and permeability
permeability ofof the
the lower
lower medium.
medium.
Equation (I)
Equation (I) waswas obtained
obtained by by regarding
regarding the
the distribution
distribution of H, and
of Hx Hgover
and Hy over

** Manuscript
Manuscript received
received by
by the
the Editor
Editor October
October 29,
so, 1953.
1953.
tt Radio
Radio Physics
Physics Laboratory,
Laboratory, Defence
Defence Research
Research Board,
Board, Ottawa,
Ottawa, Canada.
Canada.

281

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 282 JAMES
JAMES R. WAIT
WAIT

the x, y plane
plane as
as an aperture
aperture distribution
distribution giving angular spectrum
giving rise to an angular spectrum of
(Monteath, 1951). If
plane waves (Monteath, If Hx
H, and Hy ZZ, vary sufficiently slowly
vary sufficiently slowly over the
x, y plane, or if 'I'
X, y isis sufficiently
sufficiently large, only
only the first term
term in each of the formulae
formulae
need be retained.
retained. For example, if the frequency
frequency is 0.1 cycle (a period of 10 sec)
IO set)
and the conductivity
conductivity of the ground is 10-i1mho/meter
is 10- mho/meter then 1 I/T'1'11 =
/ 1/ kilometers.
= 35 kilometers.
Then case if Hx
Then for this case H, and Hy H, do not change greatly
greatly between
between pointspoints 35 km
km
apart,
apart, the terms in '1'-2,
ym2,etc. may
may be neglected and equation
equation (I)(I) becomes:
becomes:

Ex
E 1: ~
= qH,y
T/H
(2)
E, = - qHz.

Thus
Thus the field impedance
impedance normal normal to the boundary
boundary exists and is equal to the in- in-
trinsic
trinsic impedance
impedance of the lower medium. medium. For For periods longer than than about
about 10 IO sec-sec-
onds
onds it isis probable
probable that that HxH, and Hy H, vary
vary by an appreciable amount in the distance
appreciable amount
corresponding to 1 1'y-l)
1'-11 since it is believed
believed that
that the sources
sources of the variations
variations of the
earth's
earth’s magnetic
magnetic field are at heights of the order of 100 kilometres as
IOO kilometres as evidenced
from rocket measurements
measurements (Mitra, (Mitra, 1952, p. 574; Baker Martyn, 1952). This
Baker and Martyn, This
would vary
vary considerably
considerably duringduring periods of magnetic activity.
magnetic activity.
Equation (2) is
Equation is exact if the sources
sources in the upper medium
medium (air)
(air) give rise to planeplane
waves incident
incident normally
normally on the lower medium (ground). For
medium (ground). For most casescases the
sources
sources in the atmosphere do not give rise to normally incident plane
normally incident plane waves.
Cagniard
Cagniard recognizes
recognizes this fact and also also arrives eventually equations exactly
eventually at equations exactly
equivalent
equivalent to equation
equation (2). He He does
does not recognize, however, that that the plane
plane wave
spectrum can contain contain plane
plane waves withwith a complex angle of incidence
incidence (Y. He states
a. He
that
that sin
sin2 2
acyis
is never greater than than unity
unity in magnitude,
magnitude, which is of course course incorrect.
incorrect.
The
The limitation
limitation that that Hx H, and Hy H, should not vary greatly in a distance 1
vary greatly '1'-\11 is
( y-‘
therefore not evident
evident from Cagniard's
Cagniard’s analysis.
When
When the ground is is horizontally
horizontally stratified,
stratified, consisting of sayan stratum
say an upper stratum
of thickness h with with an intrinsic
intrinsic propagation
propagation constant '1'1 and intrinsic
constant -yi intrinsic impedance
impedance
vi and a lower stratum
T/I stratum of infinite
infinite thickness withwith constants y2 '1'2 and Q,
T/2, the surface
impedance
impedance is is given by

+~1 tanh
vz + T/I
T/2 tanh ('Yl
(rrh)h)
T/ = T/I (3)
’ = ” tl +
T/I + T/2
q2 tanh
tanh ('Ylh)
(nh) .

This
This formula
formula can be arrived
arrived at directly
directly by by considering the analogous transmission
transmission
line problem
problem (Schelkunoff,
(Schelkunoff, 1938). The The equivalent line is of length
equivalent line length h with
with a propa-
propa-
gation constant 'y1
gation constant 1'1 and characteristic
characteristic impedance
impedance ql terminated in an im-
T/I and is terminated im-
pedance whose
whose value
value is 72. The
is T/2. The input
input impedance
impedance of the line is is then
then 11 as given
T/ as given by
by
equation
equation (3), which can now be writtenwritten in terms of the conductivities
conductivities u1 0"1 and u2,
0"2,

and magnetic
magnetic permeabilities
permeabilities fJ.I~1 and ~2
fJ.2 of the upper and lower strata
strata asas follows:

7 = mQ (4)

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 TELLURIC
TELLURIC CURRENTS
CURRENTS AND
AND THE
THE EARTH'S
EARTH’S MAGNETIC
MAGNETIC FIRLD
FIELD 283
283

where
Q = (J.l.20"t!J.l.I0"2)1
(P~u~/P~u~)~~~ +
/2 + tanh (iO"IJ.1.1W)l/2h
(i~io)~/*h
Q=
I1 + (WJllW2) 1/Z tanh
+ (J.l.20"t!J.l.I0"2)l/2 tanh (iO"IJ.l.IW)1/2h
(i~~p~w)~/~h

and it hashas been assumed

assumed that that tlW«O"I
c~w<<u~ and t2W«0"2.
czw<<uz.This
This equation
equation now reduces reduces
to Cagniard's
Cagniard’s equation
equation (30) for the specialspecial casecase when the permeability
permeability contrast contrast
between the strata is is zero (i.e. J.l.l
~l=~Z-&. It is
=J.l.2-J.l.O). It is therefore pointedpointed out that that for
cases of formations
cases formations having
having magnetic
magnetic susceptibility,
susceptibility, ratios O"d 0"1, given in his
uZ/ul,
Figures 7 and 8, 8, should be replaced by the ratio ratio J.l.lud
~luz/~2u1, horizontal
J.l.20"1, and the horizontal
scale frequency) should be shifted to the left by a factor J.l.d
scale (inverse frequency) ~JF~.J.l.l.
To
To apply
apply Cagniard's
Cagniard’s results to interpretation
interpretation of sub-surface stratificationstratification it is is
necessary
necessary to carry out a harmonicharmonic analysis of both the electric field function function
ex(t)
e%(t)and the magnetic function hy(t).
magnetic field function &(t). The
The harmonic components Ex(w)
harmonic components E,(w) and
HvCw)
H,(w) at an angular
angular frequency
frequency warew are then compared to obtain obtain the surface im- im-
function ?j(w).
pedance function q(w). Apparently
Apparently this procedure requires a fair fair amount
amount of labor labor
unless
unless the analysis be carried out by electronic electronic means. A suggested suggested alternative
alternative is
to examine
examine the relation
relation between the time time functions
functions ex(t)
e=(t) and hy(t) directly.
and h@(t) directly.
If
If the magnetic
magnetic field hy(t)
h,(t) is
is in the form of a step-function,
step-function, that that is,
is, it it suddenly
suddenly
changes from one level H
changes another level H
Ho0 to another o+!:1H 0 at t=o
HofAHo t = 0 then the frequency frequency
spectrum Hy(w)
H,(w) associated
associated with
with this change is
+- = ~AHo
m~Hoe-i~t&
H,(w) =
S
--m
h,(l)e-i”tdt =
S 0 iW
(5)

The corresponding frequency

The frequency spectrum
spectrum of the tangential
tangential electric
electric field is
IS then
then
by:
given by:
Ez(w) =
Ex(w) = ?j(w)!:1Ho/iw
v(w)AH,,/iw .

The
The frequency
frequency function v(w) is given
function '1(w) given by
by equation
equation (3) for the two-layer
two-layer ground
ground
and it
it can be rewritten
rewritten in the following
following form.
form.

'1(W) = iJ.l.IW[1 + 2f(~- (3)ne-2n'Ylh] (6)

1'1 n~1 I + (3

where 8= (J.l.IO"dJ.l.20"1) 1/2.

(3= (~~~J~zur)‘ The time
~*. The time function
function e=(t) tangential electric
ex(t) for the tangential electric field is
then given
given by:
by:

-I f<Xl E,(w)e-iwtdw
m

= A-
ex(t)
e=(t) =
S
Ex(w)ciwtdw

l
271"
23r --m
_<Xl

=-
()1/2
I
~ !:1Ho
f t-"
--
I
+ 2 L1 (I---
- (3)n e- (iW)1/2J eiw1dw.(7)
<Xl
2na
271" 0" _<Xl (iw)1/2 I + f3 (iw)1/2
These integrals
integrals are of a known
known type
type (Campbell
(Campbell andand Foster, 1948, p,
Foster, 1948, 93, formula
p. 93, formula
no. 807) so
so the integrations
integrations can be readily
readily carried
carried out to yield
yield

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 284 JAMES R. WAIT
JAMES WAIT

e,(t) = F(T)/&‘ah

\vhe:re
where

F(T) =
F(T) T-22
n=l [I + (~$Pl.] 2 (8)
(8)

and

T = t/a 2 = t/a&L2.

The function
The function F (T) therefore characteristic
(T) is therefore characteristic of the shape of the electric
electric field
time function. It
time function. plotted in
It is plotted in Figure
Figure I asas aa function
function of the normalized
normalized time
time factor
factor
The case
T. The case where @ corresponds, of course,
= II corresponds,
(3= course, to the homogeneous ground
ground where
electric field decays as
the electric as T- l12.It
T-l/2. noted that
It is noted that for highly
highly conducting
conducting lower
lower lay-
lay-
ex(t) decays more rapidly
ers e,(t) rapidly than
than for the homogeneous ground. ground. Conversely,
Conversely, ifif
lower layer
the lower layer is very
very poorly
poorly conducting
conducting the decay is somewhat
somewhat slower.
The corresponding electric
The electric field function ex(t) for any
function ez(t) any other
other type
type of magnetic
magnetic

3.5,-------,----------,-------,--------,-------r----------,

-iI
THE
THE DECAY THE ELECTRIC
DECAY OF THE ELECTRIC
Z \ I
2.5t-----T---1--- FIELD
FIELD FOR
FOR A STEP
STEP MAGNETIC
MAGNETIC FIELD1
FIELD
o
F:
~
u
Y
Z
::l
\
z 2.0t-------j-~~---_j_-----t_­
2.0
LL

on
~
ii 1.5
1.5f----.---+
ii
LL

u
~
F
0 1.0
1.0
~
U
Y
W
\I JJ' I

~
i: 0.5~---~-----~--~~r_-~~
0.5 •3

o0
0.1
0.1 0.2 0.5 1.0
10 2 5 10
T==
T t fa; f-L.h2
/qp,h2
FIG. I.
I. Electric
Electric field variation
variation with
with time for two-layered
two-layered earth when magnetic field varies step-
variesstep-
wise
wise at t=o.
t=o. The parameter j3= &u.&o~)‘/~ where ITl
parameter {J=C;t,IT2/J.L20,)'/2 ~1 and J.Ll
gLIare conductivity
conductivity and magnetic perme-
perme
ability, respectively, of the upper layer, IT2
ability, g2 and J.L2
~2 of the lower layer.

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 TELLURIC
TELLURIC CURRENTS
CURRENTS AND THE
AND THE EARTH'S
EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD
MAGNETIC FIELD 285
285

function Hy(t)
field function HU(t) can be obtained
obtained in a similar
similar manner.
manner. ForFor example
example if the mag-
mag-
netic
netic field is
is suddenly
suddenly decreased
decreased in value
value by an amount.:lH
amount AHoo at time tt=O
at time then
= 0 and then
is re-established at t =
is eXl (t) is given
= tl, the corresponding electric field ezl(t) given by
by

ez,(t) = e,(t - h) - ez(t)

where eit)
es(t) is
is a step-function
step-function response
response given
given by equation (8).
equation (8).
For
For a magnetic function h(t) given by
magnetic field function

h(t)
l(t) = Ho +
Ha + .:lHoJ(t)
AHpf(t) for t >
> o
0

= Ho for t <
< 0o

function cxCt)
then the corresponding electric field function Z,(t) is expressed
expressed in terms of the
step-function
step-function response e=(t) by:
response ex(t) by:

z,(t) =
cx(t) = -f
dftf‘ (l -
J(t - r)exCr)dr.
7)ez(7)d7.
dt S 00

The
The limitation
limitation thatthat Hx
H, (and Hy) H,) varies slowly
slowly over the x, y plane
plane also
also applies
to the transient
transient case.
case. An equivalent
equivalent statement
statement isis that Hz should not
that H, not vary
vary appre-
appre-
ciably
ciably in a distance (tI27ruj.I.)I/2.
(t/z7ru~()r’~. This
This means that
that the transient ex(t) are
transient curves for cl(t)
probably
probably not valid
valid for any
any value
value of tf greater
greater than
than about IO seconds.
about 10 seconds.
I would like
like to thank
thank Mr.
Mr. D.D. A. Trumpler
Trumpler for his assistance
assistance with
with the calcula-
calcula-
tions for Figure
Figure I. I.

REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Baker,
Baker, W. G. and Martyn,
Martyn, D. D. F., 1952, The
The conductivity
conductivity of the ionosphere: Nature,
Nature, v. 170,
x70, p. 1090·
1090.
Cagniard,
Cagniard, Louis, 1953, Basic theorytheory of the magneto-telluric
magneto-telluric method of geophysical
geophysical prospecting:
prospecting:
Geophysics, v. 18,18, p. 605-635.
605-635.
Campbell,
Campbell, G. A. and Foster, R. M., M., 1948,
1948, Fourier
Fourier integrals
integrals for practical application: New
practical application: New York,
York, D.D.
Van Nostrand
Nostrand Co., Inc.
Inc.
Mitra,
Mitra, S.
S. K.,
K., 1952, The
The upper atmosphere: The The Asiatic
Asiatic Society.
Monteath,
Monteath, G. D., ~951, The
D., T95I, The application
application of the compensation theorem to certain certain radiation
radiation and
propagation
propagation problems: Proc. Inst.Inst. Elect. Eng.,
Eng., Pt.
Pt. IV,
IV, v. 98, no. J.
J.
Schelkunoff, S.S. A., 1938,
7938, The
The impedance concept and its application reflection, refrac-
application to problems of reflection, refrac-
tion, shielding, and power absorption: Bell System Tech. Jour., v. 17, J7.
‘7, p. 17.

CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN
BETWEEN PROF.
PROF. CAGNIARD
CAGNIARD AND DR.
AND DR. WAIT
WAIT
Before submitting
submitting the manuscript
manuscript of the paper above to GEOPHYSICS,
GEOPHYSICS, Dr.
Dr.
Wait
Wait sent a copy of it it to Prof. Cagniard
Cagniard in France.
France. The correspondence between
The correspondence between
them that
that followed has
has been made available
available by
by its authors for publication
publication along
with
with the paper and the letters that that were exchanged are presented herewith.
herewith.
Acknowledgment
Acknowledgment is is made to Dr.
Dr. Robert
Robert G. Van
Van Nostrand translating Prof.
Nostrand for translating Prof.
Cagniard's
Cagniard’s letters.-THE
letters.-THE EDITOR
EDITOR

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 286 JAMES
JAMES R.
R. WAIT
WAIT

Paris
24 October,
October, 1953
IQ53
Dr.
Dr. James R. Wait
Wait
Defence Research Board
Board
Ottawa,
Ottawa, Canada
Canada

Dear
Dear Sir:
I have only recently
recently received your your interesting
interesting work for which which II thank
thank you veryvery much. II assure
assure
you that
that I have not yet had the necessary necessary time
time to study carefully
carefully its contents nor to refer to the
bibliographic
bibliographic references
references which you cite. However,
However, I do not want delay giving
want to delay giving you my my first impres-
sions.
sions.
With
With respect
respect to transients, I stated (GEOPHYSICS,
(GEOPHYSICS,XVIII,XVIII, p. 61 61 I) that II did not believe that
I) that that they
they
present great practical
practical interest. It It is
is to be understood that that itit would please
please me if if you were to find
a convenient and effectiVl'
effective interpretive
interpretive method based upon them. But, until
them. But, until II can be convinced of a
better
better technique, I prefer the harmonicharmonic analysis and the use use of the notion
notion of apparent
apparent resistivity.
resistivity. Do Do
not reproach me for not yet having having told everything
everything nor for not yet having having explained the means by
which I envisage makingmaking automatically
automatically the analysis in question. II am not in a position at present
to furnish the details of the apparatus
apparatus which I use use to this end.
My
My calculations depend on the dual hypothesis of a uniform telluric sheet
uniform telluric sheet and a horizontally
horizontally
stratified
stratified geologic
geologic structure.
structure. They
They are, of course,
course, only approximations.
approximations. The The merit
merit of your
your work,
work, merit
merit
which I appreciate
appreciate greatly,
greatly, is to furnish a critique
critique of the value approximation. However,
value of this approximation. However, II
would be be very happy
happy if you would show show me how you establish equation equation (I) so that
(I) so that II can
ran judge
judge the
hypothesis upon which it is founded. It It would be equall}
equally agreeable to me if you would would publish thatthat atat
some
some time or another.
also like to make two remarks to you:
I would also
I. In the examplt
I. example which 1 h?ve heve taken of a plane incident wave, II had no other
incident wave, other aim
aim than
than to show
show
how very diverse causescauses could give place to the flow of the same type type of current
current sheet
sheet in the earth.
earth.
Since
Since I considered
considered only real plane waves, waves of the physicist physicist and not those those of the mathematician,
mathematician,
my angles
angles were real and I was not "incorrect"
“incorrect” in stating
stating that thp absolute value
that the value of their
their sines
sines was less
less
than 1. I. In your
your case,
case, you chose
chose to consider a source
source situated at a finite
finite distance and, fcllowing
fcllowing Weyl,
We)"l,
to decompose
decompose the dipole emission
emission into plane waves which are only mathematical mathematical abstractions
abstractions and for
which arise complex angles. I do not reproach you (for this approach) approach) but but do not criticize
criticize me for
what
what I am doing; we are not treating treating the same
same problem.
2. Your
2. Your argument
argument concerning the lack of uniformity uniformity of telluric sheets seems
telluric sheets seems to me to be open to
criticism
criticism on on the ground that that magneto-telluric
magneto-telluric perturbations
perturbations found at a given place are certainly certainly not
emitted
emitted by some some isolated dipole situated in the ionosphere near the zenith. zenith. One would
would not explain
then all of the remarkable
remarkable uniformity
uniformity of telluric
telluric sheets,
sheets, a uniformity
uniformity whichwhich is not simply
simply a point
point of
view nor a more or less less adventuresome hypothesis but a proven proven fact of dailydaily experience.
experience. When
When we
record simultaneously
simultaneously in the Paris region and in the Midi Midi of France,
France, at two stations separated by 600 600
kilometers,
kilometers, over geologic
geologic structures which have absolutelyabsolutely nothing common, rapid
nothing in common, rapid variation
variation (a few
seconds
seconds to a few minutes) of the horizontal horizontal components of the magnetic magnetic field, the two graphs ob-
tained are striking
striking in their near identity.
identity. Telluric
Telluric recordings made simultaneously
simultaneously in France,
France, Morocco,
Morocco,
and Madagascar
Madagascar are certainly
certainly not identical-which
identical-which would he contradictory-hut
contradictory-but never the less less pres-
ent an indisputable
indisputable "family
“family resemblance."
resemblance.” All All of this proves, if it it is necessary,
necessary, that
that magneto-telluric
magneto-telluric
perturbations
perturbations are not generated by isolated dipoles but by vast systems of ionospheric electric cur-
rents whose
whose dimensions
dimensions are on a global scale. scale. The
The altitude
altitude of these
these sheets
sheets of ionospheric current
current can
very
very well be of the order of only ten kilometers kilometers without
without introducing
introducing very very much distortion
distortion in the
uniformity
uniformity of the telluric
telluric sheet
sheet over distances
distances of several tens of kilometers.
kilometers.
I am sending
sending a copy of this letterletter to Dr.
Dr. Milton
Milton Dobrin.
Dobrin. II thank
thank you again for the interest that that

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 TELLURIC
TELLURIC CURRENTS AND THE
CURRENTS AND THE EARTH'S
EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD
MAGNETIC FIELD 287
187

you have shown in my work and the useful additions

additions which you have made to it.
it. Until
Until I hear
hearfrom
from
you again, please
please accept, dear sir, my best wishes.
wishes.
L.
L. CAGNIA~D
CAGNIARD
397, Rue
Rue Vaugirard
Vaugirard
Paris, France.
France.

Defence Research Telecommunications

Telecommunications
Establishment,
Establishment,
Radio Laboratory,
Radio Physics Laboratory,
Defence Research Board,
Board,
Shirley Bay,
Shirley Bay,
Ottawa, Ontario.
Ottawa, Ontario.
October 29, 1953
October
Professor
Professor Louis Cagniard,
Cagniard,
397 Rue de Vaugirard,
Vaugirard,
Paris IS,
13,
France.
Dear
Dear Professor
Professor Cagniard:
Cagniard:
Thank
Thank you for comments on my note entitled entitled "On
“On the Relation Between Telluric
Relation Between Telluric Currents
Currents and
the Earth's
Earth’s Magnetic
Magnetic Field."
Field.” I am glad that that you found this of interest.
I agree that
that the harmonic
harmonic analysis of the earth current current and the tangential
tangential magnetic
magnetic field records
records
would lead to a more refined method of interpretationinterpretation if the Fourier
Fourier components could be extractedextracted
by electronic means. In In any casecase the transient
transient and the frequency response data
frequency response data are equivalent
equivalent from
a mathematical
mathematical standpoint.
standpoint. In In addition,
addition, I believe that
that the "raw
“raw data" records could be
data” from the field records
examined directly
directly and compared to the idealized transient transient curves to ascertain quickly
quickly the general
nature
nature of the crustal layers.
I don't
don’t believe there is is any doubt as as to the existence
existence of complex angles of incidence in the plane
wave spectrum of radiation
radiation from a dipolardipolar source.
source. This
This question has been been discussed
discussed at length
length by
Booker and Clemmow.1
Clemmow.’ Of course course at large distances
distances from the dipole the wave front front is almost plane
plane
and the angle of incidence com>spondscorresponds to the angle hetween between the line of sight and the vertical.vertical. At
At
shorter distances
distances the field of the dipole becomes becomes very
very different. The E and H fields
different. The fields are no longer
mutually
mutually perpendicular
perpendicular to the radial radial direction
direction and they are not related related by the characteristic
characteristic im-
im-
pedance of free space.
space. In In this case
case the spectrum in terms of phne plane waves contains complex angles of
incidence soso that
that sin 2 a
sin2 01is not always
always less
less than unity.
unity. Of course,
course, if the source
source were a current
current sheet
sheet of
infinite
infinite extent and uniform
uniform in amplitude
amplitude and phase, the emanating radiation, obtained
emanating radiation, obtained by integrating
integrating
over all the horizontal
horizontal electric dipoles, would be a normally normally incident wave.
incident plane wave.
The
The current
current system in the upper atmosphere giving giving rise
rise to short (less than
short period (less than 60 set)
sec) varia-
varia-
tions of the magn'!tic
magnetic such such asas "micro
“micro pulsations"
pulsations” are confined to a limited limited region as as observed by
several investigators. 2 •3 •4 In
investigators.2s3T’ In this case
case the infinite
infinite sheet representation
representation is is not permissible. It would
It would
seem
seem reasonable that that the currents could he be represented by a finite distribution
distribution of electric and mag-
dipoles and therefore one
netic dipoles one must admit
admit complex angles of incidence. On the other hand there have
been
been short period (5 to 10 IO sec)
set) pulsations of small amplitude
amplitude reported,5 that do occur simultaneously
reported,l that simultaneously
over large parts of the world at lower and middle latitudes. latitudes. At northern latitudes,
At northern latitudes, however, the
short period variations
variations are generally
generally due to local conditions in the ionosphere. In In any
any case,
case, it
it would

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 288
288 JAMES
JAMES R.
R. WAIT
WAIT

always be necessary
necessary to ensure
ensure that
that the magnetic field components do not change appreciably
appreciably in a
distance equal to the reciprocal of the propagation
propagation constant of the ground.
At your request
request I shall outline briefly
briefly the derivationS
derivationa of equation (1)
(I) in my note.

A rectangular
rectangular coordinate systemsystem is
is employed with the (x,(x, y) plane coinciding with
with the ground
and the ze axis
axis pointing
pointing downward.
downward. The ground is is assumed
assumed to be homogeneous
homogeneous withwith electrical con-
con-
stants <1',
O, E,e, and p..
p. The field
field component H.H, (and Hu)
Ry) in
in the ground can be setset up as
as aa superposition of
elementary waves so so that

H&r, y,
H.(x, 2) = JJI~ J_!(K"
y, z) J_,/(&, K 2)e-(iK12+~~+K”)(K,/K)dR,dK?
Kz)e-‘ (K,z+K'l1I+ K ")(Ki/K)dK,dK,

wheref(Ki, K,)
wheref(K" Kp) is
is an
an aperature
aperature distribution
distribution and
and

K,= +
K,2 I_ K22
Kz2 + K?2 =
+ K3 2
w2pe
W P.E -- iopc~
i<1'}JM == K2.
P.

The
The electric field Eu
electric field E, is
is then
then given
given by
by

Ey=2.--
Eu = ---.- - - I as ]
aH. in the
in plane z.z = O.
the plane o.
Q
<1' ++ 2WE a.2 1._0
iwe az I_o

It is
It is noted
noted that
that under
under the
the integral
integral sign
sign

a
a,=- zKa = - idKZ - (K12 + K3)

which
which can
can be
be expanded
expanded in
in aa Taylor
Taylor series
seriesas
as

:za
_=-=
a.2
- iK [1 - K,22~2K,2 + 0 (~. ) ] .
The
The electric
electric field
field tangential
tangential to
to the
the ground
ground can
can then
then be
be written
written

Ev(x,y,o) = -,~_~S,[~-~(Kl’+K2’) +...I f(K1, Kz)e-i(K1”+K~)(K~/K)dKldKp

which
which is
is equivalent
equivalent to
to

-E.=qH+& 2%) +0(S).

AA similar
similar equation
equation relates E, and
relates E. Hu in
and Hu in the
the plane
plane .'1:=0.
z=o.
AA more
more rigorous
rigorous derivation
derivation of
of these
theserelations
relations”S will
will appear
appear in
in the
the Journal
Journul ofofApplied Physics in
Applied Physics in ua
forthcoming
forthcoming paper
paper by
by W.
W. J.
J. Surtees
Surteesand
and myself.
myself. II am
am also
alsosending
sendingaa copy
copy of
of this
this letter
letter to
to Dr.
Dr. Dobrin.
Dobrin.
Yours very
Yours very truly,
truly,
JAMES R.
JAMES R. WAIT
WAIT

REFERENCES CITED
REFERENCES CITEDINDR.
IN DR. WAIT'S
WAIT’S LETTER OF
LETTER OFOCT~BER 29
OCTOBER 29

H. G.
1.I. H. G. Booker
Booker and
and P.
P. C.
C. Clemmow,
Clemmow, Jour.
Jour. Inst.
Inst. Elect.
Elect. Engs.
Engs. Pt.
Pt. III,
III, 94,
94, 171,
171, 1947
1947 and
and Pt.
Pt. III
11197,
97,
II, 1950.
II, 1950.
D. La
2.2. D. La Cour,
Cour, Terr.
Terr. Mag.
Mag. and and Atmos.
Atmos. Elect.,
Elect., 47,47, 265,
265, 1942.
1942.
3·3. L.
L. Harang,
Harang, Terr.
Terr. Mag.
Mag. andand Atmos.
Atmos. Elect.,
Elect., 37,
37, 57,
57, 1932.
1932.
4.4. B.
B. Rolf,
Rolf, Terr.
Terr. Mag.
Mag. and
and Atmos.
Atmos. Elect.,
Elect., 36,
36, 7,7, 1931.
1931.

5.5. B.
B. Angenheister,
Angenheister, Terr.
Terr. Mag.
Mag. and
and Atmos.
Atmos. Elect.,
Elect., 25, 25, 26,
26, J920.
1920.
W. J.J. Surtees,
6.6. W. Surtees,Defence
Defence Research
Research Board
Board Report,
Report, University
University of of Toronto,
Toronto, October
October 1952.
1952. (D.
(D. R.
R. B.
B.
Grant No.
Grant No. 67)
67) and
andJ.J.R.
R. Wait,
Wait, Radio
Radio Physics
PhysicsLab. Lab. Project
Project Report
Report 19-0-4,
19-0-4, Sept.,
Sept., 1953.
7953.

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 TELLURIC
TELLURIC CURRENTS
CURRENTS AND
AND THE
THE EARTH'S
EARTH’S MAGNETIC
MAGNETIC FIELD
FIELD 289
2%

Paris
16 November,
16 November, 1953
Dr. James
James R. Wait
Wait
Defence Research
Research Telecommunications
Telecommunications Establishment
Establishment
Ottawa,
Ottawa, Ontario
Ontario

Dear Sir:
Thank
Thank you for your last letter
letter of October 29,
zg, 1953 and for the interesting
interesting proof which you have
will make aa brief reference to your work in the chapter
given me. I will chapter "Electricite
“Electricit TeUurique"
Tellurique” which
Prof. Bartels of Gottingen
Gottingen has requ€'sted
requested me to write
write for the next edition of Handbuch
Handbuch derder Physik.
Pkysik.
I am entirely
entirely in accord with
with you except regarding
regarding the question of the micropulsations
micropulsations being
limited to aa very restricted region. Only
limited Only yesterday,
yesterday, M.
M. Migaux,
Migaux, director
director of the Compagnie
Compagnie Generale
G&&ale
de
de Geophysique, the man who "sees" “sees” the most micropulsations,
micropulsations, told me that
that they
they do not exist except
where there are industrial
industrial disturbances. Along
Along with
with St. Thomas,
Thomas, we have to see see to believe.
Please accept, dear Dr.
Please Dr. Wait,
Wait, this expression
expression of my best wishes.
wishes.
L. CAGNIARD
L. CAGNIARD

397, Vaugirard
397, Rue de Vaugirard
France
15, France
Paris IS,

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