Geophysical studies of the global electric circuit

Physical mechanisms of formation of the global electric circuit (GEC) are considered and energy estimates are obtained for aeroelectric processes. Global thunderstorm activity, the electrodynamics of mesoscale convective systems, the electric fields of the magnetospheric dynamo and ionospheric dynamo region, and the electrostatic field of the global unipolar generator form a quasi-stationary aeroelectric state and maintain the balance of currents of the GEC atmospheric interval. In essence, the GEC is an open dissipative system including microphysical and electrohydrodynamic processes of generation and dissipation of the aeroelectric energy. The atmospheric electric field in the range of short-period aeroelectric pulsations has power-law spectra and contains coherent aeroelectric structures. The main GEC characteristics can serve as an indicator of a stationary state and spatiotemporal dynamics of atmospheric processes.