Calculation of atmospheric electric fields penetrating from the ionosphere |
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| Authors: | V V Denisenko V V Bychkov E V Pomozov |
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| Institution: | (1) Institute of Geophysics, ETH, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland |
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| Abstract: | The spatial distributions of electric fields and currents in the Earth’s atmosphere are calculated. Electric potential distributions
typical of substorms and quiet geomagnetic conditions are specified in the ionosphere. The Earth is treated as a perfect conductor.
The atmosphere is considered as a spherical layer with a given height dependence of electrical conductivity. With the chosen
conductivity model and an ionospheric potential of 300 kV with respect to the Earth, the electric field near the ground is
vertical and reaches 110 Vm−1. With the 60-kV potential difference in the polar cap of the ionosphere, the electric field disturbances with a vertical
component of up to 13 V m−1 can occur in the atmosphere. These disturbances are maximal near the ground. If the horizontal scales of field nonuniformity
are over 100 km, the vertical component of the electric field near the ground can be calculated with the one-dimensional model.
The field and current distributions in the upper atmosphere can be obtained only from the three-dimensional model. The numerical
method for solving electrical conductivity problems makes it possible to take into account conductivity inhomogeneities and
the ground relief. |
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