Twentieth century secular decrease in the atmospheric potential gradient

Details Twentieth century secular decrease in the atmospheric potential gradient Twentieth century secular decrease in the atmospheric potential gradient

Jul 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002georl..29n...5h&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 29, Issue 14, pp. 5-1, CiteID 1660, DOI 10.1029/2002GL014878

Physics

10

Meteorology And Atmospheric Dynamics: Atmospheric Electricity, Interplanetary Physics: Cosmic Rays, Ionosphere: Ionosphere/Atmosphere Interactions (0335), Global Change: Solar Variability

Scientific paper

Current flowing in the global atmospheric electrical circuit (AEC) substantially decreased during the twentieth century. Fair-weather potential gradient (PG) observations in Scotland and Shetland show a previously unreported annual decline from 1920 to 1980, when the measurements ceased. A 25% reduction in PG occurred in Scotland 1920-50, with the maximum decline during the winter months. This is quantitatively explained by a decrease in cosmic rays (CR) increasing the thunderstorm-electrosphere coupling resistance, reducing the ionospheric potential VI. Independent measurements of VI also suggest a reduction of 27% from 1920-50. The secular decrease will influence fair weather atmospheric electrical parameters, including ion concentrations and aerosol electrification. Between 1920-50, the PG showed a negative correlation with global temperature, despite the positive correlation found recently between surface temperature and VI. The 1980s stabilisation in VI may arise from compensation of the continuing CR-induced decline by increases in global temperature and convective electrification.

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