M. Kubicki

Effect of Magnetic Storms in Variations in the Atmospheric Electric Field at Midlatitudes

The observations of the variations in the vertical component of the atmospheric electric field (Ez) at Swider midlatitude Poland observatory (geomagnetic latitude 47.8°) under the conditions of fair weather during 14 magnetic storms have been analyzed. The effect of the magnetic storm main phase in the daytime midlatitude variations in Ez in the absence of local geomagnetic disturbances has been detected for the first time. Considerable (∼100–300 V m−1) decreases in the electric field strength (Ez) at Swider observatory were observed in daytime simultaneously with the substorm onset in the nighttime sector of auroral latitudes (College observatory). The detected effects indicate that an intensification of the interplanetary electric field during the magnetic storm main phase, the development of magnetospheric substorms, and precipitation of energetic electrons into the nighttime auroral ionosphere can result in considerable disturbances in the midlatitude atmospheric electric field.

Morning polar substorms and variations in the atmospheric electric field

The effects of morning magnetospheric substorms in the variations in near-Earth atmospheric electricity according to the observations of the electric field vertical component (Ez), at Hornsund polar observatory (Spitsbergen). The Ez, data, obtained under the conditions of fair weather (i.e., in the absence of a strong wind, precipitation, and fog), are analyzed. An analysis of the observations indicated that the development of a magnetospheric substorm in the Earth’s morning sector is as a rule accompanied by positive deviations in Ez, independently of the Hornsund location: in the polar cap or at its boundary. In all considered events, Hornsund was located near the center of the morning convection vortex. In the evening sector, when Hornsund fell in the region of evening convection vortex, the development of a geomagnetic substorm was accompanied by negative deviations in Ez., It has been concluded that the variations in the atmospheric electric field Ez), at polar latitudes, observed during the development of magnetospheric substorms, result from the penetration of electric fields of polar ionospheric convection (which are intensified during a substorm) to the Earth’s surface.

Effect of substorms in the Earth’s nightside sector on variations in the surface atmospheric electric field at polar and equatorial latitudes

We performed an analysis of mean daily variations in the ΔEz atmospheric electric field at the Hornsund (located near the polar cap boundary) and Kakioka (located at near-equatorial latitudes) observatories under magnetically quiet and weakly disturbed conditions. At both observatories, the mean daily variations in ΔEz were found to be mainly controlled by the location of the observation point with respect to the focuses of the convective vortices of the DP0 system. The substorm evolution in the nightside of the magnetosphere (a sharp burst in the AE index) was shown to lead to negative variations in ΔEz in the dayside sector at polar latitudes (the Hornsund observatory) and positive deviations in ΔEz at premidnight time at equatorial latitudes (the Kakioka observatory). It is concluded that variations in ΔEz at the Kakioka observatory are largely controlled by the equatorial electrojet, which is maximal during day-time hours, and at the Hornsund observatory these variations are controlled by the auroral electrojet, which is maximal at night-time and early morning hours of local time.

Variations in the near-ground electric field at high latitudes and the potential drop across the polar cap during morning polar substorms

This paper studies time variations in the near-ground atmospheric electric field (Ez) at the geomagnetic latitude of 74° (Hornsund observatory) during polar substorms. Ez variations are compared with those in the potential drop across the polar cap (Up), according to SuperDARN radar observations. It is found that in the morning sector, time variations in Ez are strongly driven by time variations in the electrojet and almost do not depend on time variations in Up, which is presumably due to the penetration of the electric field of the electrojet into tropospheric altitudes.

First Measurements of the Earth’s Electric Field at the Arctowski Antarctic Station, King George Island, by the New Polish Atmospheric Electricity Observation Network

Atmospheric electricity measurements are performed all over the globe for getting a better understanding of the processes and phenomena operating in the Earth’s electric atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere. Over recent years, we have established coordinated observations of atmospheric electricity, mainly of the vertical component of the Earth’s atmospheric electric field, from Polish observation stations: Stanisław Kalinowski Geophysical Observatory in Świder, Poland, Stanisław Siedlecki Polar Station in Hornsund, Svalbard, Norway, and, for the first time, the Henryk Arctowski Antarctic Station in King George Island. The organisation of this network is presented here as well as a preliminary summary of geophysical conditions at Arctowski, important from the point of view of atmospheric electricity observations. In particular, we refer to the geomagnetic observations made at Arctowski station in 1978–1995. We also present the average fair-weather diurnal variation of the atmospheric electric field based on observations made so far between 2013 and 2015.

UAS as a Support for Atmospheric Aerosols Research: Case Study

Small drones (multi-copters) have the potential to deliver valuable data for atmospheric research. They are especially useful for collecting vertical profiles of optical and microphysical properties of atmospheric aerosols. Miniaturization of sensors, such as aethalometers and particle counters, allows for collecting profiles of black carbon concentration, absorption coefficient, and particle size distribution. Vertical variability of single-scattering properties has a significant impact on radiative transfer and Earth’s climate, but the base of global measurements is very limited. This results in high uncertainties of climate/radiation models. Vertical range of modern multi-copters is up to 2000 m, which is usually enough to study aerosols up to the top of planetary boundary layer on middle latitudes. In this study, we present the benefits coming from usage of small drones in atmospheric research. The experiment, described as a case study, was conducted at two stations (Swider and Warsaw) in Poland, from October 2014 to March 2015. For over 6 months, photoacoustic extinctiometers collected data at both stations. This enabled us to compare the stations and to establish ground reference of black carbon concentrations for vertical profiles collected by ceilometer and drone. At Swider station, we used Vaisala CL-31 ceilometer. It delivered vertical profiles of range corrected signal, which were analysed together with profiles acquired by micro-aethalometer AE-51 and Vaisala RS92-SGP radiosonde carried by a hexacopter drone. Near to the surface, black carbon gradient of

EGATEC: A new high‐resolution engineering model of the global atmospheric electric circuit—Currents in the lower atmosphere

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Comparison of global storm activity rate calculated from Schumann resonance background components to electric field intensity E0Z

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