Solar modulation in surface atmospheric electricity |
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| Authors: | R Giles Harrison Ilya Usoskin |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, P.O Box 243, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6BB, UK;2. Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory (Oulu Unit), P.O. Box 3000, FIN 90014, University of Oulu, Finland;1. Renewable Energies Chair, University of Évora, IIFA, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 7002-554, Évora, Portugal;2. Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock''s Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK;1. Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6BB, UK;2. Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada S7N 5A2;1. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143 Roma, Italy;2. Università di Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum, 40126 Bologna, Italy;2. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India;3. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India |
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| Abstract: | The solar wind modulates the flux of galactic cosmic rays impinging on Earth inversely with solar activity. Cosmic ray ionisation is the major source of air's electrical conductivity over the oceans and well above the continents. Differential solar modulation of the cosmic ray energy spectrum modifies the cosmic ray ionisation at different latitudes, varying the total atmospheric columnar conductance. This redistributes current flow in the global atmospheric electrical circuit, including the local vertical current density and the related surface potential gradient. Surface vertical current density and potential gradient measurements made independently at Lerwick Observatory, Shetland, from 1978 to 1985 are compared with modelled changes in cosmic ray ionisation arising from solar activity changes. Both the lower troposphere atmospheric electricity quantities are significantly increased at cosmic ray maximum (solar minimum), with a proportional change greater than that of the cosmic ray change. |
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