The Schumann resonance, often referred to as the Schumann wave, is a naturally occurring electromagnetic phenomenon that occurs in the Earth's ionosphere. It was named after physicist Winfried Otto Schumann, who first predicted its existence in 1952. Schumann resonance is caused by the interaction between the Earth's surface and the ionosphere, which is a region of the Earth's upper atmosphere filled with charged particles.
The Earth-ionosphere system acts like a giant spherical waveguide for electromagnetic waves, with the Earth's surface and the ionosphere forming the boundaries of this waveguide. The resonant frequency of this cavity is around 7.83 Hz (cycles per second). However, it's essential to note that the Schumann resonance is not a single frequency but a range of frequencies centered around this primary frequency.
The primary sources of the Schumann resonance are lightning discharges that constantly occur all around the world. When lightning strikes the Earth's surface, it sends powerful electrical currents into the ionosphere. The ionosphere, being electrically conductive, reflects these electromagnetic waves back toward the Earth's surface. As these waves bounce between the surface and the ionosphere, they reinforce each other at the resonant frequency, establishing a standing wave pattern.
The Schumann resonance can be detected in the extremely low-frequency (ELF) range of the electromagnetic spectrum. While the strongest and most consistent frequency is around 7.83 Hz, there are additional peaks at higher harmonics, such as 14.3 Hz, 20.8 Hz, and 27.3 Hz.
This phenomenon is of scientific interest, and it has also been suggested that the Schumann resonance might have some influence on living organisms, including humans. Some researchers have proposed connections between the Schumann resonance and human brainwave frequencies, suggesting that there could be potential implications for human health and well-being. However, the research in this area is still ongoing, and the extent of any direct impact on human physiology or behavior remains a subject of debate and investigation.