Global electrical currents

Summary The atmospheric electrical structure of the earth is postulated to be controlled by a motivating force in the lower ionosphere which is produced by interaction between neutral atmosphere tidal circulations and the ionospheric plasma in the presence of the earth's magnetic field. Associated electric fields power the dynamo currents through the Hall effect with a resulting development of a gross electric potential distribution in the lower ionosphere. Asymmetries in these hemispheric potential distributions result in exospheric current flows in lowL-shells and larger differences in potential produced by dynamo return current flows in high magnetic latitudes result in strong currents through highL-shells between auroral zones. Vertical thunderstorm currents with their associated lightning discharges effectively connect the earth to a low potential region of the dynamo circuit and thus supply the earth with an average negative charge which motivates a leakage tropospheric electrical circuit. In addition, the dynamo currents maintain the magnetic polar regions at different potentials with a resulting electrical exchange with the solar wind through the earth's near space. These considerations indicate that observed electrical and variable magnetic phenomena near the earth are all part of a single comprehensive electrical current system.This paper was read byH. Dolezalek in an abbreviated form supplied by the author.     

Simulated impacts of atmospheric gravity waves on the initiation and optical emissions of sprite halos in the mesosphere

The correlation between atmospheric gravity waves(GWs) and Transient Luminous Events(TLEs) has been poorly studied using both synchronous observations and numerical simulations. To investigate the modulation effects of GWs on TLEs,a troposphere-mesosphere quasi-electrostatic field model is developed in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, and the effects of GW perturbations on the initiation and optical emissions of sprite halos are simulated using the model. Simulation results indicate that the atmospheric density at lower ionosphere altitudes becomes inhomogeneous due to GW perturbations, and sprite halos tend to initiate in the GW troughs due to the lower electric breakdown threshold. GW perturbations cause the deformation of sprite halos, strong luminous regions distribute mainly along the GW troughs while optical intensities along the GW peaks is relatively weak. Larger GW perturbations lead to more pronounced deformation of sprite halos, however, stronger lightning discharges in the troposphere result in less optical perturbations of sprite halos. The observed luminous intensities and optical morphology of sprite halos are also affected by the observing orientations and the lightning polarities.     

ELF/VLF signatures of sprite-producing lightning discharges observed during the 2005 EuroSprite campaign

During the summer of 2005, transient luminous events were optically imaged from the French Pyrénées as part of the EuroSprite campaign. Simultaneously, extremely low frequency (ELF: 3–3000 Hz) and broadband very low frequency (VLF: 3–30 kHz) data were recorded continuously at two separate receivers in Israel, located about 3300 km from the area of the parent lightning discharges responsible for the generation of sprites. Additionally, narrowband VLF data were collected in Crete, at about 2300 km away from the region of sprites.The motivation for the present study was to identify the signature of the sprite-producing lightning discharges in the ELF and VLF electromagnetic frequency bands, to qualify and compare their parameters, and to study the influence of the thunderstorm-activated region on its overlaying ionosphere. For the 15 sprites analyzed, their causative positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) discharges had peak current intensities between +8 and +130 kA whereas their charge moment changes (CMC) ranged from 500 to 3500 C km. Furthermore, the peak current reported by the Météorage lightning network are well correlated with the amplitudes of the VLF bursts, while showing poor correlation with the CMCs which were estimated using ELF methods.Additionally, more than one +CG was associated with six of the sprites, implying that lightning discharges that produce sprites can sometimes have multiple ground connections separated in time and space. Finally, for a significant number of events (33%) an ELF transient was not associated with sprite occurrence, suggesting that long continuing current of tens of ms may not always be a necessary condition for sprite production, a finding which influences the estimation of the global sprite rate based on Schumann resonance (SR) measurements.     

基于闪电双极性窄脉冲事件波形观测日出日落电离层D层变化

利用闪电作为辐射源来探测电离层D层是近年来国外学者研究的热点.本文基于江淮流域六站同步闪电观测站网,实现了一种利用闪电双极性窄脉冲事件（Narrow Bipolar Events,NBE）来探测电离层D层等效高度的方法.基于此方法,对两次分别发生在日出和日落阶段的雷暴分析结果显示,上述两个阶段D层反射高度变化特征呈现显著的不对称性：日出期间D层反射高度随时间线性降低速率为5.9 km/h;而日落期间D层反射高度随时间线性递增速率为8.6 km/h.综合日间太阳耀斑期间D层反射高度剧烈波动的观测事实,与日出、日落期间D层特征变化,结果表明太阳辐射电离中性大气分子的电子生成机制在日间D层电子密度变化中占主导地位.本文结果展现了利用NBE事件监测电离层D层变化特征的可行性,这一方法与基于地闪回击波形的D层探测方法结合在一起,有望把现有具有闪电事件定位和电磁波波形记录能力的闪电观测站网扩展为实时对电离层D层时空变化监测的网络.     

Penetration of Nonstationary Ionospheric Electric Fields into Lower Atmospheric Layers in the Global Electric Circuit Model

The problem of the penetration of nonstationary ionospheric electric fields into the lower atmospheric layers is considered based on the model of the global electric circuit in the Earth’s atmosphere. For the equation of the electric field potential, a solution that takes into account exponential variation in the electrical conductivity with height has been obtained. Analysis of the solution made it possible to reveal three cases of the dependence of the solution on height. The first case (the case of high frequencies) corresponds to the Coulomb approximation, when the electrical conductivity of the atmosphere can be neglected. In the case of low frequencies (when the frequency of changes in the ionosphere potential is less than the quantity reciprocal to the time of electric relaxation of the atmosphere), a quasi-stationary regime, in which the variation in the electric potential of the atmosphere is determined by the electric conduction currents, occurs. In the third case, due to the increase in the electrical conductivity of the atmosphere, two spherical regions appear: with the Coulomb approximation in the lower region and conduction currents in the upper one. For these three cases, formulas for estimating the electric field strength near the Earth’s surface have been obtained.     

Study of charge structure and radiation characteristic of intracloud discharge in thunderstorms of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The comprehensive observations on lightning discharges were conducted in Naqu area of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in summer of 2002. The electric structures of thunderstorms and the characteristics of lightning discharges at initial stage were analyzed by using the observation data. The results show that most of intracloud (IC) lightning flashes were polarities inverted in thunderstorms with tripole electric charge structure and occurred between negative charge region located in the middle of the thunderstorm and positive charge region located at the bottom of the thunderstorm. The radiation characteristics of discharge processes in cloud with longer lasting time involved in Cloud-to-Ground (CG) lightning flashes were similar to that of IC discharges.A lot of radiation pulses were produced in these discharge processes. Because the IC discharges took place at the bottom of thundercloud and were near the ground, they may produce more serious damage to equipment on the ground therefore should not be neglected in lightning protection.     

Study of charge structure and radiation characteristic of intracloud discharge in thunderstorms of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The comprehensive observations on lightning discharges were conducted in Naqu area of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in summer of 2002. The electric structures of thunderstorms and the characteristics of lightning discharges at initial stage were analyzed by using the observation data. The results show that most of intracloud (IC) lightning flashes were polarities inverted in thunderstorms with tripole electric charge structure and occurred between negative charge region located in the middle of the thunderstorm and positive charge region located at the bottom of the thunderstorm. The radiation characteristics of discharge processes in cloud with longer lasting time involved in Cloud-to-Ground (CG) lightning flashes were similar to that of IC discharges. A lot of radiation pulses were produced in these discharge processes. Because the IC discharges took place at the bottom of thundercloud and were near the ground, they may produce more serious damage to equipment on the ground therefore should not be neglected in lightning protection.     

The Physics of Lightning

An overview of the physics of cloud-to-ground lightning is given, including its initiation, propagation, and attachment to ground. Discharges artificially initiated (triggered) from natural thunderclouds using the rocket-and-wire technique are discussed with a view toward studying properties of natural lightning. Both conventional and runaway breakdown mechanisms of lightning initiation in thunderclouds are reviewed, as is the role of the lower positive charge region in facilitating different types of lightning. New observations of negative-leader stepping and its attachment to ground are compared to similar processes in long laboratory sparks. The mechanism and parameters of compact intracloud lightning discharges that are thought to be the most intense natural producers of HF-VHF (3–300 MHz) radiation on Earth are reviewed. The M-component mode of charge transfer to ground and its difference from the leader/return-stroke mode are discussed. Lightning interaction with the ionosphere and the production of energetic radiation (X-rays and gamma radiation) by cloud-to-ground leaders are considered.     

ELF wave generation in the ionosphere using pulse modulated HF heating: initial tests of a technique for increasing ELF wave generation efficiency

This paper describes the results of a preliminary study to determine the effective heating and cooling time constants of ionospheric currents in a simulated modulated HF heating, ‘beam painting’ configuration. It has been found that even and odd harmonics of the fundamental ELF wave used to amplitude modulate the HF heater are sourced from different regions of the ionosphere which support significantly different heating and cooling time constants. The fundamental frequency and its odd harmonics are sourced in a region of the ionosphere where the heating and cooling time constants are about equal. The even harmonics on the other hand are sourced from regions of the ionosphere characterised by ratios of cooling to heating time constant greater than ten. It is thought that the even harmonics are sourced in the lower ionosphere (around 65 km) where the currents are much smaller than at the higher altitudes around 78 km where the currents at the fundamental frequency and odd harmonics maximise.     

Spatiotemporal characteristics of positive cloud-to-ground lightning discharges and bidirectional leader of the lightning

The negative CG lightning discharges neutralizing negative charges in cloud usually dominate for most of thunderstorms. However, a lot of positive CG light-ning discharges often occur in the disappearing stage of thunderstorms, in the stratiform region of mesoscale convective systems and some supercells producing hail and tornado. Because the positive CG lightning discharges produce larger current of the return stroke and neutralize more charges due to the continuing currents with longer las…     

雷暴云准静电场对夜间电离层D区的影响

模型，计算了雷暴云电荷突然对地放电后QE场大小 在0～90km高度上的分布. 对200C的正电荷对地放电后的计算表明，在放电1ms后，在65～78km的区域内，QE场大于大气的雪崩电场，而0.5s后，该电场迅速衰减到很低的水平. 在电 离层高度上，由于电子的热化时标和电离时标极短，在QE场的作用下，夜间局部低电离层会 有比较大的响应. 对Boltzmann方程数值求解的结果表明，在某些高度上，电子分布函数有 明显的高能尾巴；在63～83km的高度上，电子平均能量为3eV＜ε＜6eV；计算的电子数 密度 的峰值扰动表明，在65～78km的高度上，电子的数密度增加，最大的电离峰值约在74km处， 大约增加了3个数量级，比电磁脉冲（EMP）的电离效果大得多.     

分层电离层模型中的L电流体系

本文分析了电离层风发电机理论中影响电流分布的几种主要因素,认为电离层电导率模型是最主要的影响因素。在计算太阴日变化（L）电流体系时,本文放弃了过去习惯采用的无限薄球壳的电导率模型,使用了分层电导率模型。考虑电导率随高度的变化以及电导率极大值的高度随纬度的变化,得到了与观测结果较为符合的理论L电流体系。本文的结果还指出,在处理某些全球性发电机理论问题时,不能简单地假定电离层为距地面等高度的无限薄球壳,而必须同时考虑大气潮汐振荡的特性及电导率随高度的变化。由此得出结论:发展三维电导率模型对于电离层风发电机理论是必要的。     

ELF transients associated with sprites and elves in eastern Mediterranean winter thunderstorms

During the northern hemisphere winter of 2005–2006, transient luminous events (TLEs) known as ‘sprites’ and ‘elves’ were imaged over thunderstorm cells in the eastern Mediterranean. Simultaneously, extremely low frequency (ELF) data (ELF: 3–3000 Hz) were recorded at two observation stations in Israel and Hungary in order to qualify and quantify parameters of the parent lightning discharge associated with the transient optical emissions in the upper atmosphere. In this study, we found that for 87% (Israel) and 77% (Hungary) of optically observed TLEs an intense ELF transient event was recorded. These stations are located some 500 and 2100 km, respectively, from the region of the TLEs. All ELF transients that were associated with TLEs were caused by lightning discharges with positive polarity. Calculation of the charge moment change showed values between 600 and 2800 C km with a peak around 1000 C km. Additionally, the time delay between the +CG and ensuing sprite was 76±34 ms and it was displaced up to 50 km from its parent CG.One of our objectives in the present study was to characterize, based on the ELF radiation from lightning, the electromagnetic (EM) waveforms of the lightning discharges which generate TLEs in the time and frequency domains, and to compare them with other lightning discharges occurring in the same thunderstorm cell at approximately the same time, but which did not produce TLEs. The survey for a typical EM waveform showed no unique ELF signature for lightning discharges associated with either sprites or elves.     

沿海地区一次多单体雷暴电荷结构时空演变

利用闪电放电辐射源三维时空分布测量,分析了山东低海拔地区一次多单体雷暴过程的电荷结构演变以及与回波强度的关系.结果表明对流云区电荷结构是典型的上正下负电偶极结构,且随着雷暴发展正负电荷层强度增大,高度抬升.负电荷区处在40 dBz以上的强回波区域中,正电荷层处在约40 dBz区域中.层状云区也有类似结构,只是强度弱,高度低.观测到的四层电荷结构是出现在对流区消散阶段,此时,由于云体不同部位的不同消散程度,电荷结构发生断裂,云体前部正负电荷区下沉,云体中部正负电荷区高度变化不大,但负电荷区域变薄,呈现出四层电荷结构.从本例结果说明,雷暴优势起电机制通常能形成电偶极或三极性结构,多极结构可能不是起电形成.本文还分析了一次负地闪传输过程,和宏观电荷结构很好吻合,说明利用三维定位系统观测,可以较好地描述雷暴宏观电荷结构.     

The correlation between the variation in ionospheric conductivity and that of the geomagnetic Sq field

Effects of the solar activity on the geomagnetic Sq field were studied by examining the correlation of the Sq amplitude in the Y-component with the sunspot number or height integrated Pedersen and Hall conductivities of the ionosphere at Kakioka, Chambon La Foret and Port Moresby for a period of 21 years. It was found that solar activity dependence of the Sq amplitude is almost explained by the effect of the local ionospheric conductivity if the month is fixed. That is, the solar activity dependence in each month is mainly caused by the local conductivity. However, the amplitude is clearly small in winter for the same conductivity value. This is probably due to the seasonal difference of the neutral winds driving ionospheric dynamo currents or to the magnetic effect of the field-aligned currents connecting both hemispheres driven by the asymmetric dynamo action in the ionosphere.     

New model simulations of the global atmospheric electric circuit driven by thunderstorms and electrified shower clouds: The roles of lightning and sprites

Several processes acting below, in and above thunderstorms and in electrified shower clouds drive upward currents which close through the global atmospheric electric circuit. These are all simulated in a novel way using the software package PSpice. A moderate negative cloud-to-ground lightning discharge from the base of a thunderstorm increases the ionospheric potential above the thundercloud by 0.0013%. Assuming the ionosphere to be an equipotential surface, this discharge increases the current flowing in the global circuit and the fair-weather electric field also by 0.0013%. A moderate positive cloud-to-ground lightning discharge from the bottom of a thunderstorm decreases the ionospheric potential by 0.014%. Such a discharge may trigger a sprite, causing the ionospheric potential to decrease by . The time scales for the recovery of the ionospheric potential are shown to be , which is of the same order as the CR time constant for the global circuit. Knowing the global average rate of lightning discharges, it is found that negative cloud-to-ground discharges increase the ionospheric potential by only 4%, and that positive cloud-to-ground discharges reduce it by 3%. Thus, overall, lightning contributes only 1%—an almost insignificant proportion—to maintaining the high potential of the ionosphere. It is concluded that the net upward current to the ionosphere due to lightning is only . Further, it is concluded that conduction and convection currents associated with “batteries” within thunderclouds and electrified shower clouds contribute essentially equally ( each) to maintaining the ionospheric potential.     

Recent Results from Studies of Electric Discharges in the Mesosphere

The paper reviews recent advances in studies of electric discharges in the stratosphere and mesosphere above thunderstorms, and their effects on the atmosphere. The primary focus is on the sprite discharge occurring in the mesosphere, which is the most commonly observed high altitude discharge by imaging cameras from the ground, but effects on the upper atmosphere by electromagnetic radiation from lightning are also considered. During the past few years, co-ordinated observations over Southern Europe have been made of a wide range of parameters related to sprites and their causative thunderstorms. Observations have been complemented by the modelling of processes ranging from the electric discharge to perturbations of trace gas concentrations in the upper atmosphere. Observations point to significant energy deposition by sprites in the neutral atmosphere as observed by infrasound waves detected at up to 1000 km distance, whereas elves and lightning have been shown significantly to affect ionization and heating of the lower ionosphere/mesosphere. Studies of the thunderstorm systems powering high altitude discharges show the important role of intracloud (IC) lightning in sprite generation as seen by the first simultaneous observations of IC activity, sprite activity and broadband, electromagnetic radiation in the VLF range. Simulations of sprite ignition suggest that, under certain conditions, energetic electrons in the runaway regime are generated in streamer discharges. Such electrons may be the source of X- and Gamma-rays observed in lightning, thunderstorms and the so-called Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) observed from space over thunderstorm regions. Model estimates of sprite perturbations to the global atmospheric electric circuit, trace gas concentrations and atmospheric dynamics suggest significant local perturbations, and possibly significant meso-scale effects, but negligible global effects.     

Charge analysis on lightning discharges to the ground in Chinese inland plateau (close to Tibet)

Since the summer of 1996, scientists from China and Japan have conducted a joint observation of natural cloud-to-ground lightning discharges in the Zhongchuan area that is located close to Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, China. It has been found that the long-duration of intracloud discharge processes, just before the first return stroke, lasted more than 120 ms for 85% of cloud-to-ground flashes in this area, with a mean duration of 189.7 ms and a maximum of 300 ms. We present the results of charge sources neutralized by four ground flashes and two intracloud discharge processes, just before the first return stroke, by using the data from a 5-site slow antenna network synchronized by GPS with 1 s time resolution. The result shows that the altitudes of the neutralized negative charge for three negative ground flashes were between 2.7 to 5.4 km above the ground, while that of neutralized positive charges for one positive ground flash and one continuing current process were at about 2.0 km above the ground. The comparison with radar echo showed that the negative discharges initiated in the region greater than 20 dBZ or near the edge of the region with intense echoes greater than 40 dBZ, while positive discharge initiated in the weak echo region.     

基于电离层反射的袖珍云闪(CID)三维定位研究

袖珍云闪是一类区别于常规闪电放电过程的特殊放电现象,能够同时产生极强的高频和低频辐射信号,其低频辐射信号在电离层与地面之间反射后能够在电场变化波形上形成电离层反射脉冲对.电离层反射信号与原信号的时间差包含着放电三维位置和电离层高度的信息,而借助于多站闪电探测网络的同步观测就能够反演这些信息.基于这一规律,本文发展了一种对袖珍云闪实现三维定位的新方法.这种方法不仅能够对大范围内的袖珍云闪实现准确的三维定位,同时还能够反演电离层的高度,是一种潜在的研究电离层相关性质的有效手段.通过将定位结果与雷达回波比较,证明这种方法具有较高的精度.利用这种方法,计算了5489例正极性袖珍云闪和1400例负极性袖珍云闪的放电高度,发现正极性袖珍云闪主要集中在7~14 km,而负极性袖珍云闪达到了15~18 km.负极性袖珍云闪的放电高度总体上与对流层顶高度相当,其数量相比于正极性袖珍云闪明显偏少,因此很可能产生于较为罕见的极旺盛的雷暴过程中.     

Ionospheric effects of ground motion: The roles of magnetic field and nonlinearity

Transformation of infrasound to magnetic sound upon propagation from ground level up to the ionosphere is considered. It is shown that upon entering the ionospheric layers at altitudes of order 150–170 km, the wave dynamics changes sharply. Nonlinear effects, including shock formation, are also considered. The shocks are typically formed in a relatively narrow range of altitudes, or not formed at all. Generalization of the model to a case of oblique propagation is briefly considered, and the effects of atmospheric profile variation and of finite plasma conductivity are estimated. Along with providing qualitative insight, the model gives some realistic estimates for waves generated by earthquakes.