Some proposed new CF standard variable names for electrical properties of the atmosphere
On behalf of the members of GLOCAEM (
http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=NE/N013689/1) I would like to propose four new variables for the CF naming conventions, relating to the electrical properties of the atmosphere.
Each of these can be measured/modelled at any height of the atmosphere but as they are often measured at near-ground level I have also included a ?close to the ground? version with the ending ?s? in each case.
From:
https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/space-weather/online-publications/miscellaneous/afrl_publications/handbook_1985/Chptr20.pdf
Electric fields, currents, and conductivities as well positive and negative ions of greatly varying size and composition constitute the principal electrical properties of the atmosphere in fair weather. Air mass motions, pressure systems, winds, turbulence, temperature, and water vapour distributions have an important influence on the electrical properties in the troposphere through their control over the distributions of charged and uncharged aerosols and radioactive particles of terrestrial origin. These influences are greatest in the atmospheric exchange layer which is generally restricted to 2.5 km above the earth's surface. In the altitude region 30 to 90 km there is a transition from classical concepts of atmospheric electricity to the phenomena of ionospheric physics chiefly because of the changing atmospheric composition and increasing mean free path resulting in an increase in the concentration of free electrons. Recent studies have shown that the ionosphere, with its relatively high conductivity, c
an no longer be regarded as the upper bound for atmospheric electrical processes. The exact nature of electrical coupling to the ionospheric and magnetospheric regions is currently under investigation.
Good references for these quantities are D.R. McGorman and W.D. Rust, The Electrical Nature of Storms, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998 and E.P Krider et al The Earth?s Electrical Environment, Studies in Geophysics, National Academy Press, Washington, 1986
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=898&page=R1
but the role and importance of each may be summarised as follows:
1. Electrical potential gradient. As a result of charge separation in disturbed weather regions and ionization sources in the atmosphere (including cosmic radiation) there exists a vertical electric potential gradient through the atmosphere. In fair weather conditions remote from pollution, this varies in a diurnal fashion (the so-called ?Carnegie curve?). In disturbed weather it becomes highly variable.
2. Vertical conduction current density. The potential gradient causes charged particles (ions) in the atmosphere to flow vertically. At the surface this is known as the air-Earth current.
3. positive (negative) electrical conductivity of the atmosphere. This is the polar (positive or negative) electrical conductivity resulting from positive (negative) small ions in atmospheric air. The conductivity is the product of the ion concentration and the ion mobility, and the elementary charge.
Variable 1:
long name vertical component of the atmospheric electrical potential gradient
variable name pg (pgs when measured at station height close to the ground)
standard name electrical potential gradient
unit_name V/m
note The potential gradient is considered positive in fair weather. (The vertical component of the electric field is negative in fair weather.)
Variable 2:
long name vertical conduction current density
variable name jcz (jczss when measured at station height close to the ground)
standard name vertical component of the conduction current density
unit_name pA/m2
note jczss is known as the air-Earth current at the surface
Variable 3:
long name positive electrical conductivity of the atmosphere
variable name sigp (sigps when measured at station height close to the ground)
standard name positive electrical conductivity
unit_name fS/m
note S denotes Sievert
Variable 4
long name negative electrical conductivity of the atmosphere
variable name sign (signs when measured at station height close to the ground)
standard name upward negative electrical conductivity
unit_name fS/m
note S denotes Sievert
I'd be interested in any comments,
Regards
Roger Brugge
University of Reading
Received on Fri Aug 05 2016 - 02:15:38 BST
