Disclosing a three field study of the Bangor Hum and how a power grid can modulate local gravity? By Dr Chris Barnes Bangor June 2012

Abstract

The Hum has rarely if ever been recorded. This is either because its signals are too weak to register on audio recording equipment or because other fields in addition to the acoustic field are needed for its perception. A three field study of the Hum in Bangor is presented. Subtle changes in the spectra electric and magnetic fields related to mains frequency harmonics and modulation thereupon are seen corresponding with the time the Hum is heard to ‘switch on’. Possible mechanisms for Hum perception are discussed. Ground currents and magnetic fields associated with the power grid might modulate local gravity at places on earth where there are intense magnetic anomalies due to underlying rock types. The case of Hum in a motor vehicle is compared with ‘The Hum’ similarities and differences are discussed.

Introduction

The Hum is an enigmatic acoustic phenomenon which is geo- sporadic and temporally sporadic and some would say unexplained or even mysterious. Those afflicted report hearing a noise rather like a distant idling engine. Very rarely has the Hum been audio recorded. This has led the present author to review Hums world-wide and label them as Hums types 1, 2 and 3.

Hum type 1 is attributable to simple LFN from known sources. Hum type 2 to LFN from more distant sources rather like the ‘Hummadruz’ even heard at the time of the industrial revolution. Hum type 3 is attributed to hitherto unexplainable or un-recordable Hums.

The author has done extensive research over the last nine years or so and has shown Hum type 3 to be associated with electricity generation and distribution.

There are several reasons why the Hum might not readily be recorded. Firstly, its amplitude might be too low. Secondly, its frequencies might be too low i.e. infrasound. Thirdly, a unique non-linearity associated with the human ear may be needed for its perception. Fourthly, energy fields other than just sound might be involved in its perception.

The author believes the Bangor Hum which commenced in 2003 coincident with the closure of the Calder Hall Nuclear Power Station to be a Hum type 3. By personal experience the author has found that Bangor Hum cannot always be screened even using 27dB attenuation wax ear plugs. This is particularly so if the Interplanetary magnetic field, Bz, is pointing southwards. The conclusion is somehow there is magnetic involvement in the Hum. There is certainly a huge amount of electromagnetic energy radiated from power systems especially as higher harmonics.

The author now concurs with amateur Hum investigator John Dawes that some cases of the Hum are due to the World’s power systems. Dawes has postulated that somehow power systems modulate gravity. The author has discussed electro gravity in this context elsewhere. It is felt that if electro gravity were the main cause of modulation the Hum would be far more ubiquitous.

An alternative is local magneto gravity modulation via magnetic rocks and minerals. Astoundingly all the areas of Britain and indeed the World which report the Hum lie over rocks which present magnetic and gravity anomalies! For example Toas, New Mexico!

Magnetic rocks can cause the static magnetic field of the earth to be radically increased or decreased depending on their type and orientation. When an ac field interacts with the DC field there will be magneto-strictive motion, i.e. contraction and expansion of the rock, hence oscillating density changes and hence local gravity modulation.

Biological systems are incredibly good at coherent detection. Electric field changes will cause minute changes in air pressure. A power grid can bring about electric and magnetic field changes in the air, the ground and the ionosphere! The author has previously associated the Bangor Hum with pumped storage power operations. This is not inconsistent with the above proposals since a ground borne infrasound signal may also be involved. Furthermore the author has recently shown that most, if not all, people who perceive the Hum have previously been in an earthquake of at least magnitude 3.2 and more usually at least magnitude 5 but do not live in highly active earthquake regions. Earthquakes bring simultaneous changes in multiple energy fields before, during and after and it is felt somehow these experiences trigger a unique bio-defence survival mechanism but unfortunately bring at the same time sensitisation to the very similar energy fields of the Hum.

Even though the Bangor Hum per se has not yet been audio recorded, it is proposed that if the above hypothesis is correct then there should be detectable changes in all three energy fields, namely; the electric, magnetic and acoustic when the Hum is heard to ‘switch –on’. As the author has pointed out before (refs) the Bangor Hum is sometimes heard or perceived to switch abruptly on. Some Hums are heard to do this. Whereas some Hummers describe the Hum as fading in and out rather like a radio signal being affected by changing propagation conditions.

Experimental

A series of experiments were conducted on the night of 31^st May 2012. The following apparatus was employed; two lap top computers. One was an Acer Type 5315 running Windows Vista and on Dell Latitude running Windows XP. Both were using Spectrum Lab software for signal processing. AC Magnetic signals were captured by standard mains transformer winding terminated in the microphone connector of the Dell. The sensor for Electric field measurement was a single wire connected to a large brass fire fender the former terminated in the microphone connector of the Acer. The Integral Microphone of the Dell also doubled up as a sound field sensor. The sound field was only recorded after changes in the electric and magnetic field were noted which coincided exactly with ‘Hum switch-on’.

The spectrum lab software was set to give a Fourier Domain analysis with a colour visual waterfall time, amplitude frequency spectrum display. The frequency window selected was DC to 1100 Hz.

The relevant waterfall plots recorded at times before and at Hum onset were .jpeg files which are included here. The relevant differences have been recorded in an XL file table for subsequent discussion.

Results

Figure 1 : Electric field plot before Hum onset.

Figure 2 : Electric field’s spectrum at onset of weak Hum

Figure 3: Magnetic field’s spectrum prior to Hum.

Figure 4: Top; Acoustic Spectrum, Bottom; Magnetic field’s spectrum both at onset of weak Hum.

HUM STATE	50	100	150	200	250	300	350	400	450	500	550	600	650	700
OFF REL dB	-50	-110	-45	BB	-60	ABS	-80	ABS	-83	ABS	-85	ABS	-90	ABS
		.1HZ		NOISE									0.1Hz
ON REL dB	-60	abs	-55	-90	-60	-120	-80	ABS	-80	ABS	-85	ABS	-90	ABS
				0.3Hz		.3Hz							.1Hz

Table 1; Comparison of significant parameters of magnetic spectra before and at Hum onset.

HUM STATE	50	100	150	200	250	300	350	400	450	500	550	600	900	1000
OFF REL dB	-65	-83	-80	-83	-82	-83	-80	-90	-85	-100	-85	-90	-110	-110
								.6Hz		1,2Hz		const	2Hz	2Hz
ON REL dB	-70	-83	-80	-85	-80	-90	-80	-90	-85	-100	-85	-100	-110	-110
								.6Hz		.6Hz		1.2Hz	1 Hz	1.3 Hz
														0

Table 2; Comparison of significant parameters of ELECTRIC field spectra before and at Hum onset.

In addition to the above, the acoustic field spectrum contained frequencies of discrete infrasound of approximately 5 and 7 Hz (-40dB), broad-band noise between 10-50 Hz and 900-1000 Hz and discrete audio frequencies of 120 and 270. Similar infrasound components have been recorded in and around Bangor before but the higher frequency acoustic makeup was somewhat different from spectra previously recorded.

Whereas the changes which take place when the Hum switches on are very subtle they have, nonetheless, been recorded which offers hope for Hum sufferers. In the magnetic field spectrum the most significant changes are at 100, 200 and 300 Hz. In the most electric field the most significant change is at 600 Hz.

Amplitude modulation of up to +/-15 d B is observed on certain of the magnetic and electric harmonics with modulation frequencies from .1 to 2Hz. Interesting these sorts of frequencies are reported worldwide in the quasi –periodicity of the Hum.

A seismic or infrasonic frequency of 8.3 Hz is expected from the synchronous motor generators at Dinorwig. In reality frequencies of 5 Hz and 7Hz are recorded. It is possible that some non –linear or parametric process may be occurring. It is especially interesting to look at the numbers here since 8.3-1.3 = 7 and 7-2 =5. 1.3 Hz is found as a modulating frequency in the electric spectrum and coincidentally it is also the blade crossing frequency of many common wind turbines! Further, interestingly, 2Hz is reported as a ubiquitous anthropogenic seismic signal the World over.

Discussion

The above recordings and numbers contained are highly exciting in their own right. Now maybe at long they will inform the true mechanism of Hum perception. A historic setting is useful in this search. Let us consider the original Taos Hum. Here is a Hum which was heard by many yet could not be audio recorded. Hearers described tone matched fundamental frequencies of between 30-80 Hz with quasi period modulations of between about .2 and 5 Hz. The region West of Taos has some of the most pronounced magnetic and gravitational anomalies in the World. The modulations heard in Taos are not inconsistent with those recorded here. High ac magntic fields about ten times normal for the background from power systems were also recoded in Taos.

There are four possible mechanisms for Hum perception based on these frequencies and modulation. Either;

1. The whole mechanism is acoustic but the fundamental mains frequency is so weak that it cannot be audio recorded but the sub-harmonic seismic frequencies are strong enough to be perceived by the ear and body in general and because they are coherently related to the fundamental, the ear and biological systems in general are excellent coherent detectors thus filling in the gaps. The seismic components intensify under certain conditions of planetary cycle and/or interplanetary magnetic field accentuated by magneto –striction in the underlying rock. As power systems become progressively ‘dirtier’ there is more harmonic available for radiation into space and more Hum the World over. Seismic frequencies are generally infrasonic and so are quite difficult to block with earplugs and in anti-vibration chambers which are only good down to about 150 Hz. On the face of it this mechanism might not fully account for all the reported features of the Hum, for example certain deaf people reporting the Hum.

2. The mechanism is a combination of seismic (infrasonic –acoustic) and magnetic. The ear responds to the seismic sub-harmonics frequencies as in (1) above but the higher power line harmonic frequencies are detected by bio-magnetite in the ear or brain. Even if magnetic detection takes places at quite high harmonic frequencies the ear or brain might fill in the missing fundamental. Thus process is known in audition (refs). This mechanism would explain two facets of the Hum. One the difficulty in screening and two how this becomes worse when the IMF points southwards for Hum sites with geomagnetic anomaly.

3. A mechanism virtually as in 2 above but with electric field detection as an additional or alternative to magnetic field detection. As people age calcite deposits are often found in the saccule of the inner ear. Calcite is a piezoelectric mineral and could respond to electric fields. An interesting way to test for the sensitivity desired in this mechanism or that in (2) above is to try standing under power lines wearing ear plugs or ear defenders and observe what is perceived. The author has tried this and perceives a very weak continuous noise deep inside his head with a direction response but only within certain ranges of field strength usually between 3-12mG, which tends to suggest magnetic sensitivity. Furhter research is required to see if all Hummers share the same.

4. A mechanism as in any of 1-3 above but also involving gravity detection of one or more component of the Hum. This could be a direct process in the ear or could take place because magnetic fields and ground currents cause strictions in underlying rocks which in turn disturbs local gravity. Some Hummers notice the Hum varies with planetary cycles and moon tides especially in coastal regions. This is not surprising if gravity effects are involved. But notwithstanding that any of gravitation, magnetic and electric stresses in rocks of appropriate type will both create noise and alter noise propagation (refs).

A phenomenon very similar to the Hum has been noticed by both the author and his wife in their Diesel Vauxhall Vectra motor car upon stopping and switching off the engine if a door is opened and then closed again the hum-like phenomenon can be perceived for several tens of seconds. The difference between this phenomena and the real Hum is the it is highly periodic, not quasi periodic like the real Hum. A very high magnetic field can be recorded in the form of a low frequency comb spectrum, whilst the car’s interior vanity lights are in the process of dimming. This seems to coincide with the Hum effect. This Hum effect is also worse immediately underneath power lines and at certain key distances from certain types of radio transmitter (ref). It is presumed that a PWM system and power FETS may control many of the car actuators and lights. It is presumed this system will emit low frequency electromagnetic pulses and higher harmonics rather like power systems. It has been shown this is a low frequency comb spectrum starting at about 4 Hz. There may be also some very weak magnetostrictive sound generation in the car wiring or components and its body acts as a sounding box. These effects are maximised in the presence of strong external fields (refs). Thus the car and its electrical systems behave in a manner to serve up a mix of electromagnetic and very weak acoustic signals rather as in the Hum.

The ‘car’ phenomenon tends to be in support of either mechanism 2 or 3 above for Hum perception. The highly period nature of the car Hum is because there is just one 4 Hz signal and its harmonics. With the real Hum there are seismic ground signals of several frequencies beating together and arriving along different paths giving rise to the quasi-periodicity. As usual the Hum throws up as many questions as answers but at least something to do with a type 3 Hum has now at long last been recorded and quantified!

Further work

In order to further test the above hypotheses, the author intends to construct and/or synthesise in software a sophisticated Hum generator platform which will acquire and mix the various Hum energy fields and thence apply to a frequency changer and acoustic output to upscale Hum to higher frequencies so that mere mortals can have a taste of what we Hummers have to endure.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank his wife Gwyneth for being an experimental subject in this study and for appraising the above ideas.