Solar modulation in surface atmospheric electricity

Solar modulation in surface atmospheric electricity

The solar wind modulates the flux of galactic cosmic rays impinging on Earth inversely with solar activity. Cosmic ray ionisation is the major source of air’s electrical conductivity over the oceans and well above the continents. Differential solar modulation of the cosmic ray energy spectrum modifies the cosmic ray ionisation at different latitudes, varying the total atmospheric columnar condu...

Variations of Atmospheric Electricity Elements in Polar Regions related to the Solar Wind Changes

Atmospheric impacts on climatic variability of surface incident solar radiation

The Earth’s climate is driven by surface incident solar radiation (Rs). Direct measurements have shown that Rs has undergone significant decadal variations. However, a large fraction of the global land surface is not covered by these observations. Satellite-derived Rs has a good global coverage but is of low accuracy in its depiction of decadal variability. This paper shows that daily to decada...

Atmospheric Electricity and Cloud Microphysics

The terrestrial atmospheric electrical system covers a range of dimensional scales, from charged molecular clusters to convective cloud systems. Charge-exchange associated with thunderclouds leads to positive charge in the upper conductive regions of the atmosphere and a net negative charge on the planetary surface. In non-thunderstorm regions, a vertical ionic current flows, replenishing the a...

The Economics of Solar Electricity

The benefits and costs of increasing solar electricity generation depend on the scale of the increase and on the timeframe over which it occurs. Short-run analyses focus on the cost-effectiveness of incremental increases in solar capacity, holding the rest of the power system fixed. Solar’s variability adds value if its power occurs at high-demand times and displaces relatively carbon-intensive...