Dynamics of Undisturbed Midlatitude Atmospheric Electricity: From Observations to Scaling

Abstract

Long-term dynamics of the electric field of the midlatitude near-surface atmosphere in a wide range of temporal scales is analyzed according to multiyear observatory and seasonal field observations. It is found that the daily dynamics of the aeroelectric field at mid-latitudes most authentically repeats a diurnal variation for the winter months. It is stated that short-period pulsations of the electric field have a self-similar power-law spectrum. Spatio-temporal scales of the self-similarity interval are estimated and the nature of the generalized diffusive process of the aeroelectric pulsation generation is defined. Characteristics of the turbulent ΔE pulsations are analyzed. Estimates of interrelation between the dynamic (fractal dimensions, intermittency indices) and power (degrees of spectral index and structure function) ΔE characteristics are obtained. Mutual correlations between atmospheric electric field variations, vertical atmospheric electrical current density, space charge density, and atmospheric electrical conductivity are studied. It is shown that variations of the light atmospheric ion number density and space charge density are related with variations of the Radon-222 emanations. Spectral analysis of the space charge density variations is carried out. It is shown that the electrodynamic state of the surface atmosphere depends on the convective state of the atmospheric boundary layer.