[10.5.06] Sferics

Inspired by a work of Lucier's called Sferics (1981), I did a bit of research on this phenomena and I've outlined some points of analysis.

• Sferics are amospheric frequency discharges from the ionosphere (i.e. ozone layer.)
• They are most often the result of electrical stroms and atmospheric disturbances.
  
• We cannot actually hear them, but standard radio receivers pick them up all the time from thousands of kilometres away.
• There are three characteristic sounds:
  
• > the standard sferic: a sound similar to crumpled bubble wrap.
• > tweeks sound like high pitch clicks and musical notes, a result of the high frequencies reaching the reiceiver before the lows.
• > whistlers sound like decending tones, they are less common, and sometimes due to the result of reverse or upward lightning.

My research into this phenomena will continue, the first thing I have to do though is build a decent copper antennae then find an appropriate site. As Lucier points out in his diary notes in the book Reflections [1], a good site for clear reception is often remote - avoiding radio interference from power cables and appliances. Also the remoteness of location allows for less cross interference between radio signals and greater potential in finding a clean frequency.

I see potential in this phenomena, and the possibility of incorporating it into a real-time installation (controlled by atmospheric impusles.)
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1. Lucier, Alvin. Reflections. MusikTexte: Koln, 1995: 456-465.