EARTH CHARGE PRODUCED BY THUNDERSTORMS
V.V. Plotkin
United Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the RAS,
3 prosp. Akad. Koptyuga, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Keywords: Thunderstorms, electric field, Earth charge, atmospheric conductivity
Pages: 257-264
Subsection: GEOPHYSICS
Abstract
Numerical simulation of the global electric field generated by thunderstorms in a static model shows that the polarity and value of Earth charge depend on latitudinal variations of atmospheric conductivity. The closest to nature atmospheric conductivity profiles correspond to a positive charge. The total Earth charge is calculated as a function of latitudinal variations of atmospheric conductivity including the effects of the Earth's orography and conductivity anisotropy in the ionosphere.
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