Simulation of seasonal dynamics of the global electric circuit diurnal variation

Abstract

Based on the ionospheric potential (IP) parameterization, the seasonal dynamics of the diurnal variation of IP for 20162017 were modeled for the first time using the numerical weather forecast model WRF-ARW. The diurnal variation of the IP, averaged over the annual simulation periods, shows good agreement with the classical Carnegie curve. The proposed parametrization correctly reproduces the basic characteristics of the stationary global electric circuit generators. The annual variation does not show a precise repeatability from year to year, but in the winter season of the Northern Hemisphere a lower IP value was obtained, and in the summer - an increased one. The model diurnal variation demonstrates stable seasonal trends, and in the northern hemisphere, the variation is characterized by only one strongly distinguished maximum IP in the 16-18 UTC area of ~120% of the average value, while in the summer season the daily variation curve has two maxima with smaller value (~ 107% of average): morning at 89 UTC and evening at 1820 UTC. The model annual variation of the diurnal variation agrees with the experimental data of the surface field measuring in Antarctica in the period 20062011. The proposed parametrization and modeling technique made possible the accurate reproduction of the IP variation maximums times, their seasonal variability, and decreasing of the amplitude of variation in the summer period of the Northern Hemisphere.