First seasonal and annual variations of atmospheric electric field at a subtropical station in Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

The variation of the atmospheric electric field from the ground is analyzed by using an electric field mill sensor for Islamabad, Pakistan. The first early results of atmospheric electric field are presented in this paper. These results are based on fair-weather days for the diurnal, seasonal, and annual variations in Islamabad from 2015 to 2017. The variation in the values of the atmospheric electric field is studied extensively during the monsoon, the pre-monsoon and the winter season. Minimum values are observed during the monsoon season, and maximum values are observed during winter and spring. The measured values of the atmospheric electric field are also compared with the universal standard values of the Carnegie curve. The trend of the diurnal variation shows a sharp single oscillation in fair-weather with a maximum at ∼ 4:00 UT (universal time), which could be due to the influence of local effects such as aerosol.