Formation of a Local Atmospheric Electric Field

PONOMAREV E.A1, CHERNEVA N.V.2, FIRSTOV P.P.3
  1. Institute of Solar Terrestrial Physics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Lermontov 134, Irkutsk, 664033 Russia
  2. Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Radio Wave Propagation, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Mirnaya 7, Paratunka, Kamchatka krai, Elizovskii raion, 684034 Russia
  3. Kamchatkan Experimental and Methodical Seismological Department, Geophysical Service, Russian Academy of Sciences, Piip Bld. 9, Petropavlovsk Kamchatskii, 683006 Russia

We have estimated the variations in the atmospheric electrostatic field (AEF, EZ(0)) strength in the surface layer caused by variations in conductivity due to radon influences, cosmic ray intensity, changes in the balance of light and heavy ions during sunset and sunrise, and under the effect of the ionospheric electric current potential on the AEF potential. It is shown that the air conductivity varies due to ionization under the effect of radon emanations and is determined by the radon exhalation and turbulent diffusion of the surface air layer, while the cosmic ray intensity affects the surface air conductivity through changes in the ion recombination conditions. A decrease in the air conductivity due to a decrease in the cosmic ray intensity (Forbush
decrease) also decreases EZ(0), while a decrease in radon fluxes results in an increase in EZ(0). We have estimated the effect of illumination conditions on the AEF due to variations in the relative concentration of heavy and light ions under the influence of photodetachment and photoattachment processes. The work has
been done on the basis of data received from the Paratunka observatory (Kamchatka).


 

 

E. A. Ponomarev, N. V. Cherneva, and P. P. Firstov, Formation of a Local Atmospheric Electric Field // Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, 2011, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 402–408.