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Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001800160001-6 UNCLASSIFIED III PRESENT STATUS (U) A. (U) General (U) In order to accomplish the goals set out in Section II, the program has been designed as a joint effort between SRI International and Time Research Institute of Los Altos, California, with SRI as the prime contractor. Time Research Institute is a research organization that specializes in temporal analysis of geophysical variables and their po- tential correlation with phenomena of interest, such as weather patterns, earthquakes, and so forth. (U) With regard to the present effort, Time Research Institute is responsible for establishing the appropriate hardware and software systems for collecting and analyzing data concerning environmental conditions and their correlation with RV performance. The purpose of the correlation study is to determine whether RV performance is enhanced or degraded by measurable changes occurring in the geophysical (including solar- terrestrial) environments. The specific data bases under consideration in this effort are given in Table lL. (U) Should correlations between geophysical variables and RV performance be found, the application potential of the effort is twofold: (1) Time periods in which enhanced RV performance might be expected could be identified, resulting in increased quality and accuracy of information obtained through such channels; similarly, time periods in which degraded RV performance might be expected could be avoided. Thus, optimum performance windows would be identified. (2) An increased understanding of the types of environmental changes that correlate with RV performance could provide clues as to the mechanisms involved in RV functioning. Such knowledge would lead to more focussed research on factors that could enhance RV performance, and would also provide information critical to the development of defensive countermeasures against RV. 5 Approved For Release PAY gB/AS¢ SITFTRTISE 00788R001 800160001-6
Approved For Release 200F REC A'S PPI ETS? 28R001800160001-6 Table 1 (U) GEOPHYSICAL DATA BASES Solar-Terrestrial — Geomagnetic Ground-measured indices Ap, K, etc. Satellite-measured intensities Solar flux (MHz) 15,400 1,415 8,800 606 4,995 410 2,800 245 2,695 Sunspot number Solar flares Interplanetary magnetic field Solar wind (Pioneer XII) Protons Cosmic ray indices (neutron monitor) Lonospheric Measurements — Sudden ionospheric disturbances (SIDS) — Auroral electrojet — Radio propagation quality indices ULF/ELF — 30 frequencies (from 1 to 30 Hz) UNCLASSIFIED (U) The tasks listed in Section II (literature search, real-time ELF measurements, real-time geophysical data acquisition via satellite downlink, and correlation studies of RV performance versus geophysical variables of interest) have been prioritized with the goal of producing the longest possible ELF data base during the period of this contract. Therefore, while all of the tasks are being pursued in parallel, ELF- related tasks have been the focus of attention to date. 6 Approved For Release 2000NKOk Ac&:SHiFHE b788R001800160001-6
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001800160001-6 UNCLASSIFIED B. (U) Literature Search (U) The purpose of the literature search is to acquire and integrate information from recent work done in the field of biological response to ELF and geophysical conditions. Approximately 30 keywords are in use as input to a computerized literature search. Forty manu- scripts have been obtained to date and are in the process of being reviewed, plus additional sources of literature have been identified and will be retrieved as priorities permit. Cc. (U) ELF Measurements 1. (U) Introduction (U) Although the ELF frequency range (3 to 300 Hz) has been studied in some detail, many unknowns remain. For example, although it is known that ELF frequencies generated by geophysical means (e.g., elec- trical storm activity) tend to distribute themselves globally, little information is available on the variation of the ELF environment from location to location. Therefore, local variations may exist that are caused by both manmade sources, and by the geological structure of the area. In the San Francisco Bay Area, manmade sources that generate ELF on a local scale include motors, telephone lines, power lines, and electrical subways [Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)], and it needs to be determined whether the emission from such sources constitutes a signif- icant contribution to the omnipresent global ELF field. (U) In order to address the above issue, two ELF monitoring stations are being set up--one at SRI Menlo Park (in the RV Laboratory) , the other at the Time Research Institute field station, 17 km distant. It is anticipated that the SRI environment may be a "noisy" one due to the large amount of electronics known to be in the area. Data from the two sites, taking the field site as a reference, are to be compared in order to begin to differentiate the naturally-occurring ELF from the manmade noise occurring at the location where RV is being carried out. 7 Approved For Releaseyqye! 8A SSF Pe py o-00788R001 800160001-6
Approved For Release 2009 RFELA'SSPEPTET9788R001 800160001-6 2. (U) Los Altos Site (U) Since May 1982, Time Research Institute has been operating an ELF monitoring site in Los Altos, collecting data twice daily for the purpose of correlating ELF disturbances with various phenomena of interest. In this period, analysis techniques were developed that are directly applicable to the present task. (U) One of the first tasks was the upgrading of the Los Altos ELF monitoring site to provide coverage during power interrupts. Research was performed to determine the best power-interrupt system, including generators. The selection criteria chosen for the generator sought to optimize power output, cost effectiveness, and reputation for reliability, with the consideration that this system might serve as a model for addi- tional sites in the client community. On this basis, a 3500-W Kubota generator was bought and installed at the site. A PTI Industries "Data- shield" device was also purchased and installed, for use in conjunction with the generator (which must be started manually). This device powers the required electronics for a period of twenty minutes on its own while awaiting generator startup. Furthermore, an automatic alarm telephone dialing system dials up as many as four individuals should a power failure occur while no one is at the site. The two devices working together have protected the system on numerous occasions from power interruptions-- including an 8-hr outage planned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Thus, since installation of the power-interrupt equipment, there has been no loss of data collection/storage. 3. (U) ELF Data Acquisition Systems a. (U) Basic System Design (U) With the requirement that two ELF monitoring sites be implemented for the program--one at SRI and one at Time Research Institute--it was decided that the two systems would be made identical. In this way, differences between the two systems would be minimized, thus reducing the opportunity for artifactual differences between the two sys- tem outputs. 8 Approved For Release 2000NHOk Ac&Sdifrds Db788R001800160001-6
Approved For Release Fao F oe SSPE PF -00788R001 800160001-6 (U) Figure 1 is a block diagram of the basic ELF data acquisition system. The ELF signal is collected by an antenna, amplified, and then digitized by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter so that the signal can be input into an IBM PC Jr. computer for the purpose of analy- sis by a fast-fourier-transform (FFT) program on at least an hourly basis. The recorded data are then transferred by floppy diskette to an IBM XT computer for further handling. AMPLIFIER A/D CONVERTER COMPUTER IBM PC JR. LL HOURLY DATA UNCLASSIFIED INCREASES SIGNAL STRENGTH © MAKES SIGNAL READABLE BY COMPUTER - DETERMINES INTENSITY OF SIGNAL FREQUENCY COMPONENTS FLOPPY DISKETTES TRANSPORTED TO IBM XT COMPUTER FIGURE 1 (U) ELF DATA-ACQUISITION SYSTEM (U) As indicated in the above system description, an integral part of the data acquisition system is computerized record keeping, using IBM systems--both the IBM PC Jr. and the IBM XT. The software is written and compiled on the XT, used as a master system, and then run on the PC Jr. (the PC Jr. is not itself large enough to run a compiler, nor are there compilers written for it). Beyond this, however, in spite of the much publicized "compatibility" between the various 9 Approved For ReleashLDW@ob/AsS SiIKFAIERDS -00788R001800160001-6
Approved For Release 200 RFET A'S SPETE TS 728R00 1800160001-6 IBM PC systems, some development time had to be expended to ensure that programs compiled on the XT (that were concerned with communication with external devices) could be run on the PC Jr.--because they handle the addressing of communication ports differently. b. (U) FFT Program (U) A consultant was hired from the Radioscience Labora- tory at Stanford University to critique the ELF system at Time Research Institute as it stood at program start. As part of that critique, he recommended changes in the FFT software to increase its accuracy and running speed. As a result, new FFT software was written in compiled BASIC and then debugged. The program description is given in Appendix A. This task was completed in mid-April. c. (U) System Electronics (U) The prototype system of Figure 1 was assembled and installed for our purposes at the Los Altos site. Early tests indicated that modification of the existing electronics was required because (1) the system was sensitive to ground-Loop problems, thus the preamplifier had to be redesigned to include an isolation amplifier, and (2) when the new system was installed in mid-June, it was found that a slowly-varying dc level was superimposed on the incoming ELF signal, resulting in ex- cursions that exceeded the Limits of the A/D converter at amplification levels required for good signal analysis. Therefore, new circuitry was designed to eliminate the dc problem. With these changes, the ELF detec- tion system is scheduled for completion of testing, debugging, and calibration at the Los Altos site in August, before its sister system is installed at SRI. d. (U) ELF Electronics/Software Subtasks (Status) (U) The status of the ELF electronics/software subtasks is as follows: 10 Approved For Release 200) bO4 AG SHPRE-B788R001800160001-6
Approved For Release 49d @ PA § BHFUHDBy00788R001800160001-6 (U) ¢ Subject to the requirement that the basic microprocessor units to be used in the program would (1) be able to com- municate with an IBM XT, (2) have at least 64K of memory, (3) possess diskette storage capability, and (4) be cost effective, the IBM PC Jr. was selected from among the various alternatives, and two units were purchased. °¢ Preamplifiers, low bandpass filters, and amplifiers have been designed, and one complete prototype system has been assembled. Amplifiers and filters have been assembled for the second system to be installed at SRI. * Design specifications have been completed for the ELF antenna. Assembly of this antenna is pending the results of a calibration task (described in Section III.D.3.e). * A survey of A/D converters that would be compatible with the other system components was completed, and the selected units were purchased. °¢ Communication between the IBM PC Jr. and the A/D con- verter has been established, enabling the computer to read the incoming signal. ° Software has been developed and debugged that: (1) reads the communications RS 232 port of the PC Jr. input from the A/D converter, (2) performs FFT analysis of the signal, and then (3) writes half-hourly averages of 19 different frequencies (from 1 to 29 Hz) to a computer diskette. Further software refinements will continue to be made, such as determining daily maximum values for each frequency. This software has been implemented and debugged. The sys- tem is ready to begin data acquisition upon implementation of the dce-level-controlling hardware. Minor enhancements of the software will continue. ¢ The Los Altos system is now in operation and is being tested. It is anticipated that the SRI system will be implemented in August. e. (U) ELF System Calibration (U) System calibration is proceeding. The Stanford University consultant mentioned earlier is an expert in the areas of ELF and VLF measurement, antenna design, and spectral analysis. His cali- bration program is being carried out at the present Los Altos site using specialized, sophisticated instruments from the Stanford Radioscience Laboratory. 11 Approved For ReleasNSdefhe> SHELERe.007ssR001 800160001-6
Approved For Release 2009 RFCLA'SSPFIESS/88RO01 800160001-6 (U) As part of the calibration process, certain power- line and power-supply "noise" sources were identified that could have produced artifacts in the historical and ongoing data. ' Therefore, in- creased electronic-filtering measures are being incorporated into the system, including software changes to recalibrate past data already in storage. (U) Finally, as part of the calibration process, three systems are to be monitored simultaneously: (1) the original unmodified Los Altos system on which the historical ELF data have been acquired; (2) a new system (described in this report) using an ELF wire-coil antenna designed by and on loan from the Radioscience Laboratory at Stanford University; (3) the new system, but with a bioantenna (oak tree) as an antenna, which is a procedure recommended by Stanford (see Nature reprint, Appendix B). The results from the calibration tests will be used to calibrate the historical data base, and to fix the final antenna design. D. (U) Satellite Downlink Geophysical Data-Acquisition System (U) A near real-time satellite downlink system for solar-terrestrial data has recently become available from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration). With this unit, it is possible to provide immediate feedback and/or analysis in conjunction with RV sessions. (Normally, there are long delays in procuring solar-terrestrial data; without the downlink, delays of 10 days to 6 months are standard.) The downlink system provides for accumulation of a detailed data base directly on computer diskettes. (See Appendix C for an item-by-item description.) (U) A satellite controller and a dish antenna for the downlink system were ordered and installed at the Los Altos site early in the project (see Figure 2). At the time of this writing, specifications for data-acquisition software for the IBM PC Jr. have been completed, and first-order software has been written that captures the data to computer diskettes. Because of the large volume of data transmitted each minute, a double-density, double-sided diskette fills in about 21 hours. Disk- 12 Approved For Release 2000hiSOk Ac& Safed Db788R001800160001-6
Approved For Releasq FRG YOR 6 leh BRP 00788R001 800160001-6 ANTENNA CONTROLLER IBM PC JR. DATA DISKETTE IBM XT COMPUTER BURROUGHS B6900 COMPUTER UNCLASSIFIED FIGURE 2 (U) REAL-TIME GEOPHYSICAL DATA ACQUISITION VIA WESTAR IV DOWNLINK (U) ettes have been changed on an almost daily basis since early April in order to begin to acquire a long-term data base. (U) To increase the amount of data that can be stored on a diskette, it is necessary to separate numerical data of interest. The necessary software is now being written that will be able to identify the various data types as they are transmitted, so that only the data of interest will be transferred to an appropriate data file on the diskette. Statistical analysis can then be done on the data in this form. (U) Other data bases are continuing to be maintained for this project by Time Research Institute. Files of 2800-MHz solar flux, the planetary magnetic activity index (Ap), the Anchorage magnetic index, 13 Approved For Releas&bBW @icbiAeS SibFA EX9s-00788R001800160001-6