RESEARCH RESULTS ON ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC FIELD AT OBSERVATORY PARATUNKA IN KAMCHATKA. V.V. Kuznetsov, N.V. Cherneva, G.I. Druzhin, I.Y. Babahanov. Institute of Space Physical Research and Radio Wave Propagation, Kamchatka, Russia

INSTRUMENT SYSTEM AT PARATUNKA OBSERVATORY: IONOSPHERE VERTICAL SOUNDING, MEASURING INSTRUMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY (in summer and in winter), RIOMETER, MEASURING INSTRUMENT OF AIR CONDUCTIVITY, MICROBAROGFAPH.

Motivation: To provide answer to if there is a correlation between AEF and GCR during Forbush decreases? To reveal the phenomena of the Sun terminator and UT variation (Carnegie curve ) of AEF in Kamchatka. To investigate if there is a correlation between AEF and cyclones dynamics? To assess a contribution of fine aerosols to AEF formation? To run experiments on AEF forcing by the artificial cloud. To ascertain if there is a secular decreasing of the AEF magnitude in Kamchatka and if it correlates with the Earth surface temperature increasing.

Variation of the atmospheric electric field E (blue) during Forbush decrease of GCR (red) and the days later. E is recovering faster than GCR is. Right: left curves compared to variation of the electro-conductivity of light ions.

E diurnal variation and the Sun terminator effect. Dark belt – night hours.

The sunrise impression (t in hours) on the AEF at Paratunka observatory (vertical zero line corresponds to the time of the sunrise).

Influence of Cyclones on the Atmospheric Electric Field of Kamchatka (a) Annual mean number of deep cyclones in January; (b) trajectories of cyclones influencing the weather in Kamchatka; (c) displacement of epicenters of two cyclones during the observation period from January 8 to January 16, 2002.

Top – azimutal distribution of thunderstorm discharges and distribution of cyclones epicenters. Bottom – distance from the cyclones epicenters to the Paratunka observatory.

(a) Distance from the epicenters of the cyclones, closest to the Paratunka observatory; (b) number of thunderstorm discharges, which propagated in a unit of time from azimuth 90°–180°; (c) evolution of the atmospheric Pressure (P, mmHg); (d) atmospheric electric field Ez (V/m) in Paratunka; (e) minimal distance L to cyclones.

Curve 1 and dots show AEF in Paratunka; 2 - AEF (E) value measured at cyclones absence; 3 - electric field of Cyclones (difference between curves 2 and 1); 4 - variations in the atmospheric pressure (P, mmHg) during the approaching of cyclones. Insert shows the Evs - P relationship.

Plausible explanations: AEF and atmospheric pressure decreases correlate. Approaching to the point of observation the cyclones give rise to atmospheric pressure decreasing which in its turn results in of the AEF decreasing. AEF decrease occurs as cyclones bear a high negative charge which approaching to the observation point generates here an electric field with reversed polarity. Question: Is it anti-cyclone to give rise to increasing of Ez magnitude? To answer this question it is necessary to run experiments on AEF forcing by the artificial cloud of water steam. A cloud with high content of water steam is taken to have a negative charge and vice versa it is a cloud of dry steam to have a positive charge.

Water steam jet out of the first borehole (a). The jet is about 150 m high. A protective casing 7 m high is at the centre of the picture, two cars are at the right bottom. Picture of water steam jet out of the second borehole (b). The jet is not than 30 m high.

Results of Ez measurements at the borehole with 78% water condensate.

Results of Ez measurements at the borehole with 100% water steam.

Global temperature anomaly & atmospheric electric field anomaly KAMCHATKA As picture suggests the temperature is increasing synchronously with AEF being decreasing.

Change of AEF at the time of powerful Sumatra earthquake recorded by Arezzo (Italy) seismic station. At the right, the data of Paratunka observatory reveal an absence of signal similar to that recorded at Arezzo.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Correlation between AEF and GCR during Forbush decreases is proved to be evident. AEF is recovering its magnitude faster as compared to the GCR intensity. 2. The phenomena of the Sun terminator and UT variation of AEF are revealed in Kamchatka. 3. Cyclones were evidently recorded up to 3,000 km from Kamchatka. Cyclone approaching gives rise to decreasing of Ez magnitude. The cyclone contains a charge of about 5000 Q. 4. Experiments on AEF forcing by steam jet revealed that the water steam failing water condensate gives rise to AEF increase and a large volume of water aerosols promotes AEF decrease. Particles about < 0,5 mkm are reported to assist in AEF generation.