Localization of ELF transients (hyperbolic positioning)

For the global detection of TLEs (see #67) to have practical value, the source discharge must be not only captured but also localized. The main method is hyperbolic positioning from the arrival times (TOA — time of arrival): the differences in the times at which the same Q-burst arrives at the individual stations define hyperbolas whose intersection determines the position of the source. This requires precise synchronization of the stations using GPS (see #67). Guha 2017

An alternative is single-station methods, which estimate the source from a single measurement location — for example by using the wave impedance (the ratio of the electric and magnetic field components), from which one can derive the direction and distance of the source discharge. These methods are less accurate than multi-station positioning, but do not require a network of synchronized receivers. Guha 2017

The localization of ELF transients thus closes the chain of cluster I: an energetic positive discharge excites a Q-burst and a sprite (see #66), the Q-burst is captured across the entire planet on a sparse network of stations (see #67) and by positioning the arrival times it is determined where the strongest discharge — and probably also the TLE — occurred.

*Cluster I file — part of the Schumann resonance knowledge base.*