SURFACE ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY ELEMENTS AND GEOPHYSICS

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...

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...

Global Electric Circuit and Lower Atmospheric Electricity

This short report describes some recent results of global electric circuit investigations. The experimental foundation of global electric circuit conception is discussed. The main origins of global electric circuit formation are examined. The electrodynamical properties of fair-weather electricity are characterized with standpoint of universal spectra and aeroelectrical structure availability. ...

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

Space weather influences on atmospheric electricity

Atmospheric electricity is a venerable topic of geophysical science, dating back to the 1750s when Franklin and Dalibard established the presence of electricity in thunderstorms. Subsequently even fine conditions were observed to be electrified, and a downward vertical atmospheric electric field of magnitude ~100V/m observed near the surface during fair weather conditions. The origin of the “fa...