Chart guide
How to read a Schumann resonance chart
A Schumann resonance spectrogram is a record of measured signal strength across frequency and time. Start with the date and axes, then inspect the color scale. A bright patch alone does not tell you that Earth's fundamental frequency has risen. Use this guide alongside the live dashboard, not as a substitute for the station's own labels.
EarthWave · Updated Oct 11, 2026
1. Check the date, time zone and station
Before interpreting a chart, identify the observing station, the dates covered and the time zone printed on the image. A saved screenshot may be old even when somebody shares it today. The original chart's clock can differ from both your phone's local time and the UTC timestamps used for EarthWave's extracted readings.
Compare the same instant, not just the same hour number. For example, 12:00 UTC is 14:00 at UTC+2 but 08:00 at UTC−4. Local offsets can change with daylight saving time. Keep the source date attached to any screenshot, and do not assume that a page refresh means the underlying measurement has updated.
2. Read frequency and time separately
On a spectrogram, one axis represents frequency in hertz and the other represents time. Check the labels and direction rather than assuming every provider uses the same layout. Persistent bands show where the recorded signal is concentrated. Schumann resonances form multiple broad modes; 7.83 Hz is a familiar approximate reference for the first mode, not a universal value fixed to two decimal places.
EarthWave separates F1, Amp F1 and Q F1 into different cards. F1 locates the first resonant mode in frequency. Amp F1 describes its measured amplitude. Q describes the sharpness of a resonance. They answer different questions and should not be merged into one 'Earth frequency' score.
3. Use the color scale, not just brightness
Colors encode the plotted signal level according to that chart's legend. Read the scale and units before comparing two images. A brighter color can indicate a stronger recorded signal on that scale; it is not a new frequency measurement. White is not a universal numerical value, and a saturated region may hide differences above the display's upper limit.
Compare adjacent periods from the same source first. Different stations, sensor orientations, processing settings or display ranges can produce different-looking images. A color comparison without these details is a visual observation, not a calibrated measurement of a global change.
4. Separate a spike from a change in F1
A brief feature spanning many frequencies is different from a resonance band moving along the frequency axis. Record its time and duration, then compare the frequency and amplitude plots for that interval. Stronger amplitude does not, by itself, show that the fundamental frequency increased.
Lightning excites Schumann resonances, but a particular bright stripe cannot be attributed to a specific cause from appearance alone. Local interference, station conditions and processing also need consideration. EarthWave's activity labels summarize its feed; they are not a worldwide alert scale, a forecast or a diagnosis. Use the spikes and methodology pages for the limits of those labels.
5. Treat blank or black periods as uncertain
An empty area might represent a low plotted signal, missing observations, a display issue or a period outside the available data. The color alone cannot distinguish these cases. Look for a station notice, a gap in timestamps or a matching interruption in the other plots before calling it a blackout.
Missing data is not a zero measurement and does not demonstrate that Earth's resonance stopped. If the latest reading is old, describe the last available observation rather than today's conditions. This site marks readings older than three hours as delayed; that is an interface freshness rule, not a scientific threshold for unusual activity.
6. Make a comparison you can check later
A useful note records the source, UTC time, frequency range, legend, duration and whether the feed was complete. Describe what changed in the measurement before interpreting why it changed. For example: 'The amplitude display became brighter for a short interval, while the first frequency band stayed near its previous position.' Do not invent a peak value from a color that has no readable scale.
Return to the live readings for the latest available measurement, the frequency guide for the modes, and history for past observations where your subscription permits access. EarthWave links to its iOS and Android apps for following the same subject on mobile. A chart cannot establish a cause for how an individual feels; questions about personal symptoms need a separate medical assessment.
Source & methodology
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