I have been quite busy recording this summer. Not least the space weather, i.e. solar storms, because in the coming years solar activity will increase, which could well be my last chance to record something like this.
Last winter I built both a VLF receiver and a good antenna that was and is easy for me to set up alone in almost any weather.
At first glance, the summer recordings seem to have been quite successful. However, there are various „technical“ issues that need to be fixed so that the recordings will be better. but that will hopefully happen in the fall.
I always tried to record for as long as possible to collect as much information as possible. I try to avoid being close to high mountains or buildings that block the view into space, or cause electrical pollution. The same goes for high-voltage lines and electric fences that create electrical pollution. All of this has to be behind mountains, or at least 20 km away. Unfortunately, these places are hard to find in Iceland. I didn’t record as much material as I was interested in, but I have found some pretty good places here and there all over the country.
Although I am recording the same thing as the northern lights, it has been shown that the most interesting sounds are heard in the mornings from about 06am to 11am. Almost without exception, you can expect to hear „Dawn chorus“ and „Whistlers“. in all sorts of varying pitches. No recording therefore sounds the same, although „Tweeks“ can be heard pretty much all day long, but with varying intensity.
What interests me most is what happens in the frequency range of 1Khz to 5Khz, as well as what happens at low frequencies, below 40Hz. Then there are silences in certain frequency ranges on a kind of background noise that seems to come from outer space, which I previously thought was due to poor equipment. Much of this material requires special analysis in spectrograms and time spent listening that awaits a better time.
Mainly due to lack of time, I must admit that I am not yet good at this subject. But I can thank Stephen P McGreevy for inspiring me for over a decade.
Here is a recording chosen at random from the summer’s recordings. It does not necessarily have to be the best, but there is a typical „Dawn chorus and Whistler“ that calls for good listening and attention.
Quality open headphones are recommended while listening at low to mid level, or in speakers at medium level.
Be careful, if too loud, it can damage both your speaker and your hearing.
(mp3 256kbps / 65,6Mb)
Recorder: Zoom F3 & Exporer E202 Receiver
Receiver: Explorer E202 V1,4
Pic: Samsung S22
Weather: Clam, dry, misty (misty because of the eruptin at Reykjanes
Location: 64.820680, -19.693353
HLJÓÐMYND - SOUNDIMAGE 