Quasi-thermal Noise Spectra Measured by a Dipole Antenna in the Upper Hybrid frequency band

Quasi-thermal noise (QTN) spectroscopy is one of the most effective tools for in situ diagnostics in space plasmas (Meyer-Vernet et al., 1998; Meyer-Vernet and Perche, 1989; Chugunov and Trakhtengerts, 1978). This method produces routine measurements of the bulk electron density and temperature; recently it has been extended to measure the ion bulk speed. Among the advantages of the method its immunity to spacecraft potential and photoelectron perturbations should be noted. Quasi-thermal noise spectroscopy is used particularly on Ulysses and Wind. However for the interpretation of QTN data the calculation of the noise voltage induced on antennas under different conditions is necessary. This question is especially complicated and so far insufficiently studied in magnetized plasmas. In the present paper we calculate the spectrum of the noise voltage induced on a dipole antenna in the upper hybrid frequency range. The computations are adapted to the interpretation of data acquired on the Ulysses and Wind spacecraft. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Charge Distribution in a Cloud Assessed from the Energetic Particle Flux Measured under the Cloud

Doklady Earth Sciences - An increase in the flux of energetic particles under thunderstorm clouds is a result of the multiplication and acceleration of particles of secondary cosmic rays in the...     

Peculiarities of the disturbance in the mesosphere composition and optical emissions caused by high-altitude discharges

The suggested equation system, including 267 chemical reactions and corresponding parametrizations of disturbances of the electric field and electron temperature, describes the dynamics of the mesosphere composition under the influence of high-altitude discharges (sprites and halos). Based on this system, the ionic disturbance, neutral components, and optical emissions of the night mesosphere caused by the sprites were modeled for a height of 77–85 km. Most attention was paid to the dynamics of disturbances of concentrations of electrons and O ₂ ⁺ , NO⁺, H₃O⁺, H₅O ₂ ⁺ , and N ₂ ⁺ typical of the studied heights. The major chemical reactions leading to the disturbance of ionic contents are determined and the relaxation dynamics of the chemical components is reviewed. The account of the excited atoms and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen allowed us to model the radiation of the sprite flash, calculate the volumetric velocity of the photon emission, and study the influence of the sprite on the neutral components of the mesosphere.     

On the generation of charge layers in MCS stratiform regions

We suggest a quantitative one-dimensional model treating the formation of charge layers near the 0 °C isotherm in stratiform regions of mesoscale convective systems. A number of factors principal for the field generation have been taken into account: both non-inductive and inductive melting charging, light ions, a complicated profile of the vertical air velocity near the 0 °С isotherm, the boundary conditions proper for the horizontally extended systems in the global electric circuit. Non-inductive collisional charging near the 0 °C isotherm was not considered. It was found that both non-inductive and inductive melting mechanisms can contribute; the inductive melting charging of ice aggregates was found more preferable, while the contribution of non-inductive mechanisms might be significant depending on particular conditions. The role of light ions in the formation of the positive charge layer near the 0 °C isotherm may be important. If the advection from the convective region ensures charge inflow to the upper charged layers, the melting charging mechanisms are able to explain an observable electric field structure in the whole stratiform region. It is important that the mutual position of the zero point on the vertical air velocity profile and the point of maximum melting-charge-transfer determines the fine structure of the electric field in the vicinity of the 0 °C isotherm.     

Electric State of the Near-Surface Atmosphere according to the Results of Tethered Balloon Observations

The electric state of the near-surface atmosphere up to a height of 400 m is investigated using a tethered balloon with a measuring platform and a ground-based information-measuring complex of the Borok middle-latitude geophysical observatory. For the first time, measurements were taken simultaneously for vertical profiles of the atmospheric electric field, polar electrical conductivities, size distribution of aerosol particles, and the volume activity of radon, which have allowed estimating the average values and variability of the space charge density and conduction current in the atmosphere. The height dependence of the electric potential with respect to the Earth’s surface and electrical resistance of the near-surface atmospheric column under different conditions of the temperature stratification is studied.

     

Calculation of the Lightning Potential Index and electric field in numerical weather prediction models

Modern methods for predicting thunderstorms and lightnings with the use of high-resolution numerical models are considered. An analysis of the Lightning Potential Index (LPI) is performed for various microphysics parameterizations with the use of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The maximum index values are shown to depend significantly on the type of parameterization. This makes it impossible to specify a single threshold LPI for various parameterizations as a criterion for the occurrence of lightning flashes. The topographic LPI maps underestimate the sizes of regions of likely thunderstorm-hazard events. Calculating the electric field under the assumption that ice and graupel are the main charge carriers is considered a new algorithm of lightning prediction. The model shows that the potential difference (between the ground and cloud layer at a given altitude) sufficient to generate a discharge is retained in a larger region than is predicted by the LPI. The main features of the spatial distribution of the electric field and potential agree with observed data.     

Studies of an artificially generated electrode effect at ground level

The outdoor experiments, using a metallic grid above the ground surface, have yielded well-defined vertical profiles of the space-charge density. The profiles showed strong evidence for the existence of an electrode effect, which could be named the artificial electrode effect and can serve as a very useful and well-controlled model for the study of atmospheric electric processes in the atmospheric surface layer. The build-up or break-down of an electrode-effect layer occurred in a time of the order of 10 s under the experimental conditions realized. The artificially generated electrode effect is dependent on the electrical field strength supplied, wind speed, turbulent mixing and ion mobilities. Wind speed and ion mobility seem to be the dominant factors, defining space-charge density profiles. A theoretical model for the artificial electrode effect has been developed, taking into account turbulent mixing of charged particles in the air flow with the logarithmic profile of the wind velocity. The numerical analysis of the boundary value problem for the two-dimensional equations for the light ion concentrations has been performed. The model presented shows a qualitative agreement of calculated space-charge profiles with measured ones, and explains the dependence of the artificial electrode effect on the dominant control parameters. The limiting conditions for the developed theory are discussed.Permanent address: Institute of Appl. Physics, 46 Ulyanov St., 603600 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia     

Simulation of High-Altitude Discharges in a Large Plasma Facility

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The most important factor determining the dynamics and structure of high-altitude discharges is the significant difference in atmospheric pressure along their length....     

Theoretical models of the height of the atmospheric boundary layer and turbulent entrainment at its upper boundary

The planetary boundary layer (PBL), which directly interacts with the underlying surface, differs significantly in its nature from the low-turbulent stably stratified free atmosphere. Fluctuations of the Earth’s surface heat balance immediately affect the PBL and assimilate there owing to the effective mechanism of turbulent heat transfer. In this case the upper boundary of the PBL plays the role of a cover, preventing the direct penetration of thermal effects and contaminants into an overlying atmospheric layer. In view of this, air pollution is especially dangerous when associated with shallow PBL. In addition, local peculiarities of climate change are mainly determined by the PBL height due to the high sensitivity of thin stably stratified PBLs to the thermal effects. Deep convective PBLs are not very sensitive to weak thermal effects, but they significantly affect the formation of convective cloudiness and the climate system as a whole by means of the turbulent entrainment of the thermal energy, humidity, aerosols, and other admixtures through the upper boundary. The PBL height and turbulent entrainment must be calculated when simulating and forecasting air pollution, abnormal frosts and heat, and other hazardous phenomena. In this paper we discuss the state-of-the-art knowledge in the area of PBL height simulation and suggest a new model of turbulent entrainment for convective PBLs.