Global Electric Circuit and Lower Atmospheric Electricity

This short report describes some recent results of global electric circuit investigations. The experimental foundation of global electric circuit conception is discussed. The main origins of global electric circuit formation are examined. The electrodynamical properties of fair-weather electricity are characterized with standpoint of universal spectra and aeroelectrical structure availability. The global electric circuit is represented as an aggregation of multi-scale electrical systems. INTRODUCTION Recent knowledge concerning the Earth’s electromagnetic environment has brought an essentially new approach to appreciate the aeroelectrical processes [5,15]. The global atmospheric electrical circuit, according to its classical definition, represents the current contour formed by bottom ionosphere and terrestrial surface conducting layers, with thunderstorm generators as the basic electrical sources, and the areas of a free atmosphere as zones of returnable currents. The global electrical circuit (GEC) is the integral current system, formed by an aggregate of geophysical shells and electrical sources. Consequently, the GEC has the properties determinable by physical state of the magnetosphere, ionosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere. Atmospheric electricity is an integral part of the global electrical circuit. CONCEPTION of GEC According to Wilson’s hypothesis the electrical potential difference between the earth’s surface and lower ionosphere (3×10 V) is supported by the whole thunderstorms activity [6]. The general feature of GEC is the vertical electric current (2×10 A/m), which flows downward to negatively charged earth’s surface from lower ionosphere. For stationary condition the equivalent of lower atmosphere is the resistor R∑ ≈ 300 ohms. A lower conductivity increases with height according to exponential law and the electric field was reduced to ≈ 10% of total value at 10 ÷ 15 km altitude. The region above 50 km possesses a good conductivity comparable with the earth’s interior conductivity. 1 2 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 4 0 1 6 0 1 2 0 1 4 0 1 6 0 1 8 0