scholarly journals The Global Electric Circuit and Global Seismicity

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 491
Author(s):  
Sergey Pulinets ◽  
Galina Khachikyan
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Electric Circuit ◽  
Thunderstorm Activity ◽  
Radon Emanation ◽  
Global Electric Circuit ◽  
Important Conclusion ◽  
Earthquake Preparation ◽  
Deep Focus ◽  
Ionospheric Potential

Basing on the catalogue of earthquakes with a magnitude of M ≥ 4.5 for the period 1973–2017, a UT variation with an amplitude of ~10% in the number of earthquakes is revealed and compared with a UT variation in the ionospheric potential (IP) with an amplitude of ~18%. We demonstrate that the amplitude of the UT variation in the number of deep-focus earthquakes is greater compared with that of crustal earthquakes, reaching 19%. The UT of the primary maxima of both the IP (according to modern calculations) and of earthquake incidence coincides (near 17:00 UT) and is, by 2 h, ahead of the classical Carnegie curve representing the UT variation in the atmospheric electric field on the ground surface. The linear regression equation between these UT variations in the number of deep-focus earthquakes and the ionospheric potential is obtained, with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.97. The results support the idea that the processes of earthquake preparation are coupled to the functional processes of the global electric circuit and the generation of atmospheric electric fields. In particular, the observed increase in thunderstorm activity over earthquake preparation areas, provided by air ionization due to radon emanation, yields a clue as to why the global thunderstorm distribution is primarily continental. Another important conclusion is that, in observing the longitudinal distributions of earthquakes against the IP distribution, we automatically observe that all such events occur in local nighttime hours. Considering that the majority of earthquake precursors have their maximums at local night and demonstrating the positive deviation from the undisturbed value, we obtain a clue as to its positive correlation with variations in the ionospheric potential.

scholarly journals Influence of Large-Scale Conductivity Inhomogeneities in the Atmosphere on the Global Electric Circuit

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 4382-4396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolay N. Slyunyaev ◽  
Evgeny A. Mareev ◽  
Alexey V. Kalinin ◽  
Artem A. Zhidkov
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Electricity ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Electric Circuit ◽  
Approximate Theory ◽  
Global Electric Circuit ◽  
Equivalent Electric Circuit ◽  
Classical Models ◽  
Well Posed ◽  
Ionospheric Potential

Abstract Theoretical estimation of the influence of large-scale conductivity inhomogeneities on the global electric circuit and, in particular, on the ionospheric potential is considered. A well-posed formulation of this problem is presented, on the basis of which an approximate method is developed so as to take account of large-scale conductivity inhomogeneities. Under certain restrictions imposed on the distributions of the conductivity and the external current density, explicit approximate formulas for the ionospheric potential are derived. The approximation developed is shown to be equivalent to that of classical models of atmospheric electricity in which the atmosphere is divided into two or more columns and is replaced by a simple equivalent electric circuit. The effect of conductivity inhomogeneities located inside and outside thunderclouds is discussed and, in particular, it is demonstrated that taking account of the conductivity reduction inside thunderclouds leads to a substantial increase in the ionospheric potential. The results following from the approximate theory are compared with those obtained from direct numerical simulations. It is found that the suggested approximation qualitatively accounts for the dependence of the ionospheric potential on the parameters of the conductivity distribution, although the relative error may be significant, especially in the case of a substantial reduction in the conductivity inside thunderclouds.

The effects of solar activity on the Global Atmospheric Electrical Circuit

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh Khansari ◽  
Eija Tanskanen ◽  
Shabnam Nikbakhsh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Electric Circuit ◽  
Electrical Circuit ◽  
Thunderstorm Activity ◽  
Lightning Activity ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
Global Electric Circuit ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
The Earth

<p>The global electric circuit (GEC) links the electric field and current flowing in the lower atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere forming a giant spherical condenser, which is charged by the thunderstorms to a potential of several hundred thousand volts (Roble and Tzur, 1986) and drives vertical current through the atmosphere’s columnar resistance. Monitoring and researching the global electric circuit (GEC) are crucially important due to its links with climate change. Those two phenomena are connected by lightning activity, which itself is a measure of the GEC. It is known that space weather affects the Earth’s lightning activity, therefore the GEC might prove to be a critical tool in examining changing climate in terms of solar and lightning activity.</p><p>The possible relation between solar activity and lightning activity has been studied for a long period of time. The relation between sunspot number and lightning activity has been investigated, although the results still remain inconclusive across regions and time. At some regions a positive correlation is found, at others a negative one. Thus, it is important to explore other solar-geomagnetic variables possibly influencing lightning activity, such as geomagnetic index or fast solar wind streams, which were found to correlate well with lightning activity (Scott et al, 2014). Another increasingly important question is whether or not aerosols will contribute significantly to the Earth’s radiation budget, whether it be cooling or warming the climate. In a warming climate aerosol loading could alter and increase lightning activity, which in turn can lead to a positive feedback due to generation of NOx and thus O3 in the troposphere, a potent greenhouse gas.</p><p>In this project we will look at the connection between solar activity, aerosol loading, and thunderstorm activity in different types of regions such as coastal, boreal forest and urban area first in Finland and later on globally.</p><p> </p><ol><li>Aniol, R., 1952. Schwankungen der Gewitterha</li></ol>

A Method of Estimating Electric Fields above Electrified Clouds from Passive Microwave Observations

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1429-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Peterson ◽  
Chuntao Liu ◽  
Douglas Mach ◽  
Wiebke Deierling ◽  
Christina Kalb
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Electric Circuit ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Global Electric Circuit ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Unique Approach ◽  
Future Utility ◽  
Unique Dataset

AbstractA unique dataset of coincident high-altitude passive microwave and electric field observations taken by the NASA ER-2 aircraft is used to assess the feasibility of estimating electric fields above electrified clouds using ubiquitous global and multidecadal satellite products. Once applied to a global dataset, such a product would provide a unique approach for diagnosing and monitoring the current sources of the global electric circuit (GEC).In this study an algorithm has been developed that employs ice scattering signals from 37- and 85-GHz passive microwave observations to characterize the electric fields above clouds overflown by the ER-2 aircraft at nearly 20-km altitude. Electric field estimates produced by this passive microwave algorithm are then compared to electric field observations also taken by the aircraft to assess its potential future utility with satellite datasets. The algorithm is shown to estimate observed electric field strengths over intense convective clouds at least 71% (58%) of the time over land and 43% (40%) of the time over the ocean to within a factor of 2 from 85-GHz (37 GHz) passive microwave observations. Electric fields over weaker clouds can be estimated 58% (41%) of the time over land and 22% (8%) of the time over the ocean from 85-GHz (37 GHz) passive microwave observations. The accuracy of these estimates is limited by systematic errors in the observations along with other factors. Despite these sources of error, the algorithm can produce reasonable estimates of electric fields over carefully selected individual electrified clouds that differ from observations by less than 20 V m−1 for clouds that produce 200–400 V m−1 electric fields at 20 km.

Geologic and related effects of the Taltal earthquake, Chile, of December 28, 1966

1968 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 851-859
Author(s):  
Richard W. Lemke ◽  
Ernest Dobrovolny ◽  
Leonardo Alvarez S. ◽  
Francisco Ortiz O.
Keyword(s):  
Ground Surface ◽  
Surface Effects ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Open Pit Mines ◽  
Deep Focus ◽  
The Town ◽  
Natural Slopes

abstract Surface effects of the Taltal earthquake were comparatively small, probably because of the deep focus, although the magnitude was 7 ¾. Small fractures broke the ground surface along fault zones in the vicinity of Taltal. Minor slumping occurred on a few steep natural slopes and in some cuts and fills along highways. There was minor damage at a few open pit mines. At Taltal, the town most affected by the earthquake, 250 buildings out of a total of 1,100 were heavily damaged.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document