Influence of Solar Wind on Secondary Cosmic Rays and Atmospheric Electricity

A relationship between the heliospheric magnetic field, atmospheric electric field, lightning activity, and secondary cosmic rays measured on the high mount of Lomnický Štít (2,634 m a.s.l.), Slovakia, during the declining phase of the solar cycle 24 is investigated with a focus on variations related to solar rotation (about 27 days). The secondary cosmic rays are detected using a neutron monitor and the detector system SEVAN, which distinguishes between different particles and energies. Using spectral analysis, we found distinct ∼27-day periodicities in variations of Bx and By components of the heliospheric magnetic field and in pressure-corrected measurements of secondary cosmic rays. The 27-day variations of secondary cosmic rays, on average, advanced and lagged the variations of Bx and By components by about 40° and −140°, respectively. Distinct 27-day periodicities were found both in the neutron monitor and the SEVAN upper and middle detector measurements. A nondominant periodicity of ∼27 days was also found for lightning activity. A cross-spectral analysis between fluctuation of the lightning activity and fluctuation of the heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) showed that fluctuation of the lightning activity was in phase and in antiphase with Bx and By components of the HMF, respectively, which is in agreement with previous studies investigating the influence of solar activity on lightning. On the other hand, the ∼27-day periodicity was not significant in the atmospheric electric field measured in Slovakia and Czechia. Therefore, no substantial influence of Bx and By on the atmospheric electric field was observed at these middle-latitude stations.

Study of the electric field variation based on preliminary observations at the ENU cosmophysical complex in 2020

The atmospheric electric field Ez is the most urgent problem of study of the physics of the atmosphere and the processes occurring in it. The conducted studies show the relationship of the electric field with atmospheric processes. Monitoring its changes is necessary to solve practical problems. This article presents brief characteristics of the installation of the EFM-100 electrostatic fluxmeter of the scientific cosmophysical experimental complex at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) and its experimental data obtained in 2020. The article presents the results of observation of atmospheric-electrical characteristics near the Earth's surface and monitoring of the electric field of the atmosphere of the city of Nur-Sultan, in particular, estimates of the variation of the electric field of the surface layer of the atmosphere during sunrise and sunset based on data obtained by the EFM-100 fluxmeter. The comparison of meteorological data with the data of the electric field strength of the atmosphere is given. The analysis of the days and months in September and October 2020, when the conditions of “good weather” were manifested, was carried out. The series of electric field data obtained at other measuring stations show the characteristic periodicity of the electric field behavior. It is established that the value of the atmospheric electric field increases during sunrise with the manifestation of the solar terminator effect. It is interesting to study the relationship between the magnitude of the electric field of the atmosphere and the intensity of the cosmic ray flux, especially in the case of Forbush effects. The data of the ENU ground-based experimental complex allows us to conduct research on the study of atmospheric physics, including atomic electricity, as well as their interaction with cosmic rays and meto-conditions.

Analyzing atmospheric electric field by the European SEVAN network of particle detectors

Particle detectors of the European SEVAN network located on mountain heights in Aragats (Armenia), Lomnický štít (Slovakia) and Musala (Bulgaria) are well suited for the detection of thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs, enhanced fluxes of electrons, gamma rays, neutrons). The modulation of charged particles flux by the electric field of the thundercloud results in a sizable change in the count rate of detectors, which measure fluxes of electrons, gamma rays, and high energy muons in the near-vertical and near-horizontal directions. The relation between electric field strength and changes of particle flux count rates is nonlinear and depends on many unknown parameters of atmospheric electric field and meteorological conditions. Nonetheless, employing extreme TGEs as a manifestation of the strong electric field in the thundercloud and by measuring fluxes of three species of secondary cosmic rays (electrons, gamma rays, and muons) by SEVAN detectors located at altitudes of ≈ 3 km we study the extreme strength of the atmospheric electric field. With the simulation of particle traversal through the electric field with CORSIKA code (https://www.iap.kit.edu/corsika/index.php, last accessed April 21, 2021), we derive a maximum potential difference in the thunderous atmosphere to be ≈ 500 MV.

A Moving Path Tracking Method of the Thunderstorm Cloud Based on the Three-Dimensional Atmospheric Electric Field Apparatus

In order to obtain the position of thunderstorm cloud in real time and make it possible to track the thunderstorm cloud motion, a method is proposed for tracking the moving path of thunderstorm cloud, with the aid of the three-dimensional atmospheric electric field apparatus (AEFA). According to the method of images, we establish a spatial model for tracking the moving path. Based on the model, we define the dynamic parameters of thunderstorm cloud position. Subsequently, to realize the moving path tracking of thunderstorm cloud, its coordinates are associated with the time points. Besides, we use the relationship between electric field component measurement error, horizontal angle, elevation angle, and the tracking accuracy to analyze the tracking performance. Finally, a fusion system combining an electric field measurement unit, electric field calibration unit, and permittivity measurement unit is designed to meet the actual needs. The results show that the method can accurately track the thunderstorm cloud moving path and has a better effect. In addition, the method can also be combined with a radar map, thus better predicting the development of the thunderstorm cloud.

Impact sporadic sources of disturbances on the atmospheric electric field оn Tien- Shan

<p>Results of the study of the impact of sporadic sources of disturbances on the state of the atmospheric electric field at the high-mountain Tien Shan station (3340 m above sea level, 20 km from Almaty) are presented. The absence of unitary variation (Carnegie curve) is the characteristic feature of diurnal changes in the atmospheric electric field under good weather conditions.</p><p>The most geoeffective sporadic sources of disturbances in the near-Earth space and the Earth's atmosphere are giant coronal mass ejections (CME), accompanied by Forbush effects in the intensity of galactic cosmic rays and by geomagnetic storms. Our studies were carried out taking into account the peculiarities of CME manifestations in the atmosphere and magnetosphere of the Earth. It was found that large magnetic storms affect the average level of the atmospheric electric field (increasing or decreasing it due to a change in the rigidity of the geomagnetic cutoff Rc), and also cause its fluctuations in the minute range (10<sup>-3</sup> ÷ 10<sup>-2</sup>) Hz. A significant decrease in the atmospheric electric field after CME is due to large Forbush effects during weak geomagnetic disturbances.</p><p>Anomalous changes in the atmospheric electric field on the eve and during earthquakes were recorded, which are unambiguously associated with the activation of seismic processes. Since the city of Almaty is surrounded by a number of potential sources of strong earthquakes, the problem of their prediction is actual for the city and its environs.</p>

Changes on atmospheric electric field and PM 2.5 during the COVID-19 measures at Xanthi on 2020 compared to the 2019 measurements and depending on the circulation weather types

<p>We present here the results of a study on the changes of PM 2.5 and atmospheric electric field (Potential Gradient, PG) during COVID-19 measures implemented at Xanthi in comparison with the 2019 measurements according to 10 classes of circulation weather types (CWT). There are two study periods. The first period was from February to May of both 2019 (no lockdown measures were implemented) and 2020 (under lockdown), and the second period was from September to December of both 2019 (no lockdown) and 2020 (lockdown). For both study periods of 2020, Xanthi was subjected to additional measures, such as curfew. Specifically, from 01/04/2020 to 27/04/2020 from 20:00 to 08:00 and from 13/11/2020 to 31/12/2020 from 21:00 to 05:00. These periods were selected according the two lockdown periods of 2020 at Xanthi and the same periods were selected for the previous year. PM 2.5 was measured in two different locations, one in the city center of Xanthi and the other is located at a semirural location approximately 2 kilometers from the city center, where also PG was measured. We present results in comparison with mean PM 2.5 and mean PG per circulation weather type on no lockdown and lockdown periods of 2019 and 2020 respectively, at Xanthi. There were changes on mean PM 2.5 and mean PG per circulation weather type between the two years. A moderate decrease of PM 2.5 per CWT between the two periods of lockdown on 2020 due to COVID-19 measures and the same periods for 2019 is observed when there was neither lockdown nor curfew. Fluctuations and a variability on mean PG per CWT are also observed between the two years. We acknowledge support of this work by the project “PANhellenic infrastructure for Atmospheric Composition and climatE change” (MIS 5021516) which is implemented under the Action “Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure”, funded by the Operational Programme "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation" (NSRF 2014-2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).</p>