Balloon measurement of vertical and horizontal atmospheric electric fields

Summary Twenty-eight balloons have been flown in Canada to measure vertical and horizontal electric fields at balloon altitudes. A horizontal electric field of magnitude typically between 10 and 50 millivolts/meter has been measured at night at high latitudes in association with auroras and magnetic disturbances. Its origin is in the magnetosphere and it maps to balloon alitudes with small attenuation according to Maxwell's equations. The vertical electric field at the balloon displays variations as the horizontal ionospheric field changes in order to maintain . Thus, magnetospheric processes affect both vertical and horizontal atmospheric electric fields and the potential differences induced by these processes may be comparable to weather induced potential differences. Weather processes have also been observed to produce large horizontal electric fields at balloon altitudes. Methods of distinguishing horizontal fields of ionospheric origin from those of weather origin are investigated with the conclusion that a determination of the source of a given event can often if not generally be made.This paper was presented byU. Fahleson     

Flow past spheres and spheroids in the presence of a toroidal magnetic field

Summary Stewartson [1]²) has considered the inviscid flow past a sphere in the presence of a uniform magnetic field andMurray andLudford [2] have investigated a similar problem in which the magnetic field originates from an axially symmetric dipole field situated at the centre of the sphere. In connection with the study of earth's magnetic field, the toroidal part of this field plays a dominant part. This gives rise to the importance of studying the effect of a toroidal magnetic field on flows past different bodies of revolution; specially past spheres and spheroids. In the present note inviscid flows past a sphere, and a spheroid, are considered, for the case of a toroidal magnetic field originating in the fluid. In the case of the sphere the field inside the sphere consists of an electric dipole directed along the axis of symmetry together with a uniform electric field which produces a uniform current along the axis. In the case of the spheroid, the field inside it is due to an electric dipole and quadrupole directed along the axis of symmetry, together with a uniform electric field which produces a uniform current along this axis.     

Der doppelperiodische Tagesgang des luftelektrischen Potentialgefälles als Folge des Austausches

Zusammenfassung Die vonJ. G. Brown vertretene Auffassung, den doppelperiodischen Tagesgang des luftelektrischen Potentialgefälles an Landstationen als Ueberlagerung eines einfach- periodischen Ganges und einer austauschbedingten Depression darzustellen, wird mit Hilfe berechneter Tagesgänge des Austauschkoeffizienten quantitativ bestätigt.

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Summary Following a suggestion ofJ. G. Brown of regarding the local variation of the earth's electric field at land-stations as mainly caused by the cycle of turbulence, convection, and subsidence the problem of the double-period of the daily variation of the earth's electric field has been numerically solved. By computed values of the daily variation of the «Austauschkoeffizient», an exact measure of atmospheric turbulence, basing on temperature observations of Leafield (England) for clear days, the daily variation of nuclei has been computed for; thus getting additionally the daily variation of ions, conductivity, and local potential-gradient. Combining this computed variation of the potential-gradient and the unitary variation of the earth's field over oceans shows a double-period (local time) of the potential-gradient of the earth's electric field at land-stations. Thus the problem of the double-period of the daily variation of the earth's electric field has been reduced to one of a single-period which cannot be explained by the «Austausch».

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Herrn Prof. Dr.W. Peppler zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

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.     

Sull'analisi periodale dei diagrammi

Riassunto Dopo aver indicato un nuovo artificio per rendere più rapida la formazione di combinazioni selettive nella analisi periodale, si illustra un modello di analizzatore armonico che traduce con mezzi fotoelettrici gli schemi diLabrouste e diVercelli. Infine, si propone una variante costruttiva dell'analizzatore elettrico progettato dalLovera.

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Summary After having showed a new way by which the process for making the selective combinations used for periodical analysis is hastened, an harmonic analysing device which traducts with photoelectric means the schemes ofLabrouste andVercelli is illustrated. Further, a change in the construction ofLovera's electric analyser is proposed.

     

The propagation of elastic waves from moving normal point loads in layered media

The steady-state response is determined of elastic layered media to buried moving normal point loads. The exact solution appears as a superposition of infinitely many rays, each of them given in closed form, in terms of algebraic functions. The solution obtained yields a local behaviour corresponding to the unbounded-space solution. The unbounded-space problem was previously solved byEason, Fulton andSneddon [8] and their solution is utilized for the present solution by superposing it on secondary fields so as to satisfy the boundary conditions. The secondary fields are obtained by the method of the differential transferm described below.     

Hydrocarbon source systems and formation of gas fields in Sichuan Basin

The formation of large and middle gas fields in Sichuan Basin is investigated based on source wntrolling theory and hydrocarbon source systems. It is indicated that Є₁, S_l, P₁, P₂ and T₃ are the main source beds and Є₁/Z₂ d, C₂ h/S₁, P₁/P₂, P₂ ch/P₂, T_1,2/P,T3 x /T3 x are important hydrocarbon source systems in the basin. All these source systems are the prospective formations and exploration spaces of large and middle gas fields. It is also emphasized that hydrocarbon generation intensity is the most important geochemical factor to estimate large and middle gas fields. Project supported by the “85–102” Chinese National Key Science and Technology Project.     

The electrostatic force between a charged conducting sphere and a charged dielectric sphere in an arbitrarily oriented external electric field

Summary The electrostatic force between a charged conducting sphere and a charged dielectric sphere in a uniform, arbitrarily oriented external electric field is obtained and presented in terms of force coefficients which depend only on the relative geometry of the two spheres and the dielectric constants of the dielectric sphere and the medium. When the dielectric constant of the dielectric sphere is allowed to approach infinity, the resulting computed force agrees with that ofDavis (1964) for two conducting spheres, and when the external field and the charge on the dielectric sphere are set to zero, the resulting force agrees with that ofHall andBeard (1975) for a charged conducting sphere near an uncharged dielectric sphere.     

On the connection between the atmospheric electric field measured at the surface and the ionospheric electric field in the Central Antarctica

Regular measurements of the atmospheric electric field made at Vostok Station (φ=78.45°S; λ=106.87°E, elevation 3500 m) in Antarctica demonstrate that extremely intense electric fields (1000–5000 V/m) can be observed during snow storms. Usually the measured value of the atmospheric electric field at Vostok is about 100–250 V/m during periods with “fair weather” conditions. Actual relation between near-surface electric fields and ionospheric electric fields remain to be a controversial problem. Some people claimed that these intense electric fields produced by snowstorms or appearing before strong earthquakes can re-distribute electric potential in the ionosphere at the heights up to 300 km. We investigated interrelation between the atmospheric and ionospheric electric fields by both experimental and theoretical methods. Our conclusion is that increased near-surface atmospheric electric fields do not contribute notably to distribution of ionospheric electric potential.     

A simple formula for the second derivative method of interpretation

Summary Second derivative coefficients for various grid systems are derived followingPeters' andElkins' approaches. Two simple formulae, one for three dimensional bodies and the other for two dimensional bodies are also suggested. These utilise the average of the anomalies around a single circle and the anomaly at the central point.All the coefficient sets and the proposed simple formulae are applied to gravity fields of spheres and cylinders. Coefficients ofElkins' type derived with a weightage of 1/r ⁴ to all the circles gave excellent results in both the cases of spheres and cylinders, whereasPeters' coefficients without any weightage to the circles gave reliable results in case of cylinders only. The simple formulae suggested gave more accurate results than any of the above coefficient sets.     

The precision nucleus counter (Pollak type) with automatic recording

Summary In order to obtain an automatic recording nucleus counter with greater accuracy than that ofVerzár, a precision photoelectric nucleus counter (Pollak type) with ceramic lining and internal diameter 2.5 cm has been substituted for the horizontal fog tube inVerzár's automat. Certain small alterations, have been made to the electric circuit of the recorder. The new arrangement can be easily calibrated and shows an accuracy approaching that of the precision counter operated under optimum conditions.

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Zusammenfassung Um einen automatischen Kondensationskernzähler von grösserer Genauigkeit als es der vonVerzár ist, zur Verfügung zu haben, wurde das horizontale Nebelrohr im Automaten vonVerzár durch einen photo-elektrischer Präzisions-Kernzähler (BauartPollak) mit unglasiertem Porzellanfutter und einem inneren Durchmesser von 2.5 cm ersetzt. An der elektrischen Schaltung der Registriereinrichtung wurden gewisse kleine Änderungen vorgenommen. Die neue Anordnung kann leicht geeicht werden und besitzt eine Genauigkeit, welche jene des Präzisions-Kernzählers unter optimalen Betriebsbedingungen erreicht.

     

Pressure wind adjustment relationships during a multilevel primitive equation prediction process using tropical atmospheric data

Summary In numerical weather forecasting process, with primitive equations, the wind and pressure fields mutually adjust to each other until some form of balance is achieved. The type of balance so achieved by the mass and wind fields during the numerical integration of the primitive equations governing atmospheric motions is not knowna priori. This is particularly so in the case of tropical regions where the pressure wind adjustment laws prevailing in a tropical atmosphere are not well understood.In this study we perform a systematic investigation of the pressure wind adjustment relations during a numerical integration of the primitive equations governing atmospheric motions in a tropical atmosphere. Therefore, a two-day prediction experiment is carried out using the Florida State University Tropical Prediction (FSU) Model (Krishnamurti, 1969;Krishnamurti,et al. 1973;Kanamitsu, 1975). The 200 mb predicted motion (u, v) and height (z) fields are then extracted at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours of forecast time. Using these motion (u, v) fields three other 200 mb height (z) fields were computed from the inverse nonlinear, linear and quasigeostrophic balance equations. Each of these three diagnostic heights for the 200 mb pressure surface were compared with the respective 200 mb heights obtained from the Florida State University Tropical Preciction Model. The comparison is done by computing the root-mean-square differences between the predicted 200 mb height fields and each of the three 200 mb heights obtained from the inverse non-linear, linear and quasigeostrophic balance equations. The results show that the root-meansquare differences between thez fields from the FSU model and those obtained from the non-linear and linear balance equations lie within the ranges 23 to 44 and 25 to 50 metres respectively. The root-mean-square differences between the predicted heights and the heights computed from the quasigeostrophic balance equation lie in the range 54 to 62 metres. These root-mean-square differences are of significant magnitude since large-scale disturbances in the tropical atmosphere are associated with rather small pressure changes.The variations of these root-mean-square differences as one moves from one forecast time to another exhibit no clear increasing or decreasing trend. In fact the variations appear somewhat random. This rather unsystematic time variation of the root-mean-square differences is a manifestation of the constant changes of the physics in the model as different weather systems evolve in the course of the forecasting process. It seems therefore that the pressure-wind adjustments that take place during a numerical integration of the model equations are of complex nature and cannot simply be approximated by simple diagnostic relations like the ones used in this study.Most of this work was done while the author was at the Florida State University, tallahassee, USA.     

Elektrische Aufladung Fallender Wassertropfen

Zusammenfassung Es wird die elektrische Aufladung einzelner, in ionisierter Luft frei fallender Wassertropfen experimentell untersucht, und zwar bei elektrischen Feldstärken zwischen 0 und 120 Volt/cm. Der Radius der untersuchten Wassertropfen beträgt 1.30 mm. Die elektrische Ladung wird durch Influenzring und hochohmige Röhrenvoltmeter in Verbindung mit Kathodenstrahloszillograph und Schleifenoszillograph gemessen. Es zeigt sich, dass der zeitliche Verlauf der Aufladung und die erreichte Grenzlandung mit der Theorie vonWhipple undChalmers in Einklang stehen. Auch zu der vonFrenkel angegebenen Theorie der Gewitterlektrizität durch Ionenabsorption wird eine experimentelle Aussage möglich.

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Summary The collecting of electrical charge by single waterdrops is experimentally examined. The drops fall freely through ionized air in the presence of electrical fields between 0 and 120 V/cm. Only drops with a radius of 1.30 mm are used. The electrical charge is measured by induction-ring and electronic amplifier previously described in connection with Cathode-Ray Oszillograph and recording Bifilar-Oszillograph. It is shown, that the rate of collecting of charge as well as the final charge gained are in accordance with the theory ofWhipple andChalmers. An experimental examination of the theorie of thunderstorm-electricity by ion absorption given byFrenkel becomes possible.

     

Magnetic and Electric Fields Produced in the Sea During Geomagnetic Disturbances

— To understand geomagnetic effects on systems with long conductors it is necessary to know the electric field those systems experience. For surface conductors such as power systems and pipelines this can easily be calculated from the magnetic field variations at the surface using the surface impedance of the earth. However, for calculating the electric fields in pipelines and submarine cables at the seafloor it is necessary to take account of the attenuating effect of the conducting seawater. Assuming that the fields are vertically propagating plane waves, we derive the transfer functions between the electric and magnetic fields at the seafloor and the magnetic field variations at the sea surface. These transfer functions are then used, with surface magnetic field data, to determine the power spectra of the seafloor magnetic and electric fields in a shallow sea (depth 100 m) and in the deep ocean (depth 5 km) for different values of the Kp magnetic activity index. For the period range considered (2 min to 3 hrs) the spectral characteristics of the seafloor magnetic and electric fields for a 100 m deep sea are very similar to those of the surface fields. For the deep ocean the seafloor spectra show a faster decrease in spectral density with increasing frequency compared to the surface fields. The results obtained are shown to be consistent with seafloor observations. Assessment of the seafloor electric fields produced by different levels of geomagnetic activity can be useful in the design of the power feed equipment for submarine cables and cathodic protection for undersea pipelines.     

EDI convection measurements at 5–6 RE in the post-midnight region

We present the first triangulation measurements of electric fields with the electron drift instrument (EDI) on Equator-S. We show results from five high-data-rate passes of the satellite through the near-midnight equatorial region, at geocentric distances of approximately 5–6 R_E, during geomagnetically quiet conditions. In a co-rotating frame of reference, the measured electric fields have magnitudes of a few tenths of mV/m, with the E × B drift generally directed sunward but with large variations. Temporal variations of the electric field on time scales of several seconds to minutes are large compared to the average magnitude. Comparisons of the “DC” baseline of the EDI-measured electric fields with the mapped Weimer ionospheric model and the Rowland and Wygant CRRES measurements yield reasonable agreement.     

On the occurrence and characteristics of intense low-altitude electric fields observed by Freja

High-resolution measurements by the double probe electric field instrument on the Freja satellite are presented. The observations show that extremely intense (up to 1 V m⁻¹) and fine-structured (<1 km) electric fields exist at auroral latitudes within the altitude regime explored by Freja (up to 1700 km). The intense field events typically occur within the early morning sector of the auroral oval (01-07 MLT) during times of geomagnetic activity. In contrast to the observations within the auroral acceleration region characterized by intense converging electric fields associated with electron precipitation, upward ion beams and upward field-aligned currents, the intense electric fields observed by Freja are often found to be diverging and located within regions of downward field-aligned currents outside the electron aurora. Moreover, the intense fields are observed in conjunction with precipitating and transversely energized ions of energies 0.5-1 keV and may play an important role in the ion heating. The observations suggest that the intense electric field events are associated with small-scale low-conductivity ionospheric regions void of auroral emissions such as east-west aligned dark filaments or vortex streets of black auroral curls located between or adjacent to auroral arcs within the morningside diffuse auroral region. We suggest that these intense fields also exist at ionospheric altitudes although no such observations have yet been made. This is possible since the height-integrated conductivity associated with the dark filaments may be as low as 0.1 S or less. In addition, Freja electric field data collected outside the auroral region are discussed with particular emphasis on subauroral electric fields which are observed within the 19–01 MLT sector between the equatorward edge of the auroral oval and the inner edge of the ring current.     

Effects of geomagnetic activity on the mesospheric electric fields

The results of three series of rocket measurements of mesospheric electric fields carried out under different geomagnetic conditions at polar and high middle latitudes are analysed. The measurements show a clear dependence of the vertical electric fields on geomagnetic activity at polar and high middle latitudes. The vertical electric fields in the lower mesosphere increase with the increase of geomagnetic indexes K_p and K_p. The simultaneous increase of the vertical electric field strength and ion conductivity was observed in the mesosphere during geomagnetic disturbances. This striking phenomenon was displayed most clearly during the solar proton events of October, 1989 accompanied by very strong geomagnetic storm (K_p = 8+). A possible mechanism of generation of the vertical electric fields in the mesosphere caused by gravitational sedimentation of charged aerosol particles is discussed. Simultaneous existence in the mesosphere of both the negative and positive multiply charged aerosol particles of different sizes is assumed for explanation of the observed V/m vertical electric fields and their behaviour under geomagnetically disturbed conditions.Paper Presented at the Second IAGA/ICMA (IAMAS) Workshop on Solar Activity Forcing of the Middle Atmosphere, Prague, August 1997     

How does the U-shaped potential close above the acceleration region? A study using Polar data

We present a statistical study of Polar electric field observations using auroral oval passes over Scandinavia above the acceleration region. We are especially interested in seeing whether we can find large perpendicular electric fields associated with an upward extended classical U-shaped potential drop for these passes, during which Polar is in the northern hemisphere usually at about 4 R_E altitude. We also use Polar magnetic field data to infer the existence of a field-aligned current (FAC) and conjugate ground-based magnetometers (the IMAGE magnetometer network) to check whether the event is substorm-related or not. We find several events with a FAC but only weak perpendicular electric fields at Polar. In those rare cases where the Polar electric field was large, its direction was mostly found to be incompatible with the U-shaped potential model, or it was associated with disturbed conditions (substorms), where one cannot easily distinguish between inductive and static perpendicular electric fields. We found only two cases which are compatible with the upward extended U-shaped potential picture, and even in those cases the potential value is quite small (1–kV). To check the validity of the analysis method we also estimate the perpendicular electric field on the southern hemisphere, where Polar flies within or below the acceleration region, and we found a large number of inverted-V-type signatures as expected from previous studies. To explain the lack of perpendicular electric fields at high altitudes we suggest an O-shaped potential model instead of the U-shaped one.     

Equatorial electrojet plasma irregularities observed during late afternoon by the 30 MHz coherent scatter radar in São Luís,Brazil

Coherent scatter radar observations conducted right before twilight by the 30 MHz radar in São Luís (Brazil) during both quiet (December 10, 2001) and disturbed (December 12, 2001) conditions detected type I echoes on the shoulders of broad type II spectra (near zero Doppler velocity). Zonal electric fields inferred from the São Luís ionosonde have a larger magnitude during the period where these spectral observations were made than on December 18, 2001 when type I echoes were not observed during late afternoon. The IMF B_z and AE index indicate that the extended geomagnetic disturbance in the afternoon of December 12, 2001 has allowed the interaction between disturbance dynamo and prompt penetration electric fields. The latter electric field component could have exceeded the former to give rise to the observed electric fields, and make possible observation of type I echoes.