The Global Atmospheric Electrical Circuit and Climate

Harrison, Giles

doi:10.1007/s10712-004-5439-8

Cited by 123 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 121 publications

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“…Positive correlations between surface temperature, lightning activity, and the global electric circuit have been identified from observations at daily to interannual time scales (Williams, 1992;Harrison, 2004;Williams, 2005). The amplitude of the Schumann resonance oscillations in the ground-ionospheric cavity (Schumann, 1952;Rycroft et al, 2000;Price et al, 2007) and temperature fluctuations in the tropical atmosphere are positively correlated mainly because of lightning activity increasing with temperature (Williams, 1992).…”

Section: Climate Impact Of Lno Xmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The global lightning-induced nitrogen oxides source

2007

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Abstract. The knowledge of the lightning-induced nitrogen oxides (LNO x ) source is important for understanding and predicting the nitrogen oxides and ozone distributions in the troposphere and their trends, the oxidising capacity of the atmosphere, and the lifetime of trace gases destroyed by reactions with OH. This knowledge is further required for the assessment of other important NO x sources, in particular from aviation emissions, the stratosphere, and from surface sources, and for understanding the possible feedback between climate changes and lightning. This paper reviews more than 3 decades of research. The review includes laboratory studies as well as surface, airborne and satellite-based observations of lightning and of NO x and related species in the atmosphere. Relevant data available from measurements in regions with strong LNO x influence are identified, including recent observations at midlatitudes and over tropical continents where most lightning occurs. Various methods to model LNO x at cloud scales or globally are described. Previous estimates are re-evaluated using the global annual mean flash frequency of 44±5 s −1 reported from OTD satellite data. From the review, mainly of airborne measurements near thunderstorms and cloud-resolving models, we conclude that a "typical" thunderstorm flash produces 15 (2-40)×10 25 NO molecules per flash, equivalent to 250 mol NO x or 3.5 kg of N mass per flash with uncertainty factor from 0.13 to 2.7. Mainly as a result of global model studies for various LNO x parameterisations tested with related observations, the best estimate of the annual global LNO x nitrogen mass source and its uncertainty range is (5±3) Tg a −1 in this study. In spite of a smaller global flash rate, the best estimate is essentially the same as in some earlier reviews, implying larger flash-specific NO x emissions. The paper estimates the LNO x accuracy required for various applications and lays out strategies for improving estimates in the future. An accuracy of Correspondence to: U. Schumann (ulrich.schumann@dlr.de) about 1 Tg a −1 or 20%, as necessary in particular for understanding tropical tropospheric chemistry, is still a challenging goal.

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Section: Climate Impact Of Lno Xmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2) Assuming a discharge energy of 6.7 GJ per flash (Price et al, 1997b), a flash rate of 44 s −1 , a global discharge current of 1 kA (Donohoe et al, 1977) (the total air-Earth current is about 1.8 kA (Harrison, 2004)), and the molar mass of the respective species.…”

Section: Other Trace Species From Lightningmentioning

confidence: 99%

The global lightning-induced nitrogen oxides source

2007

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“…Techniques for measurement of air conductivity and conduction current density are not discussed further here, but summaries of the associated methods required are given in Harrison (2004), Aplin and Harrison (2001) and Bennett and Harrison (2008).…”

Section: Atmospheric Observations Of Dust Electrificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Electrified Dust and Dust Devil Electrodynamics to Martian Atmospheric Electricity

et al. 2016

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Atmospheric transport and suspension of dust frequently brings electrification, which may be substantial. Electric fields of 10 kV m −1 to 100 kV m −1 have been observed at the surface beneath suspended dust in the terrestrial atmosphere, and some electrification has been observed to persist in dust at levels to 5 km, as well as in volcanic plumes. The interaction between individual particles which causes the electrification is incompletely understood, and multiple processes are thought to be acting. A variation in particle charge with particle size, and the effect of gravitational separation explains to, some extent, the charge structures observed in terrestrial dust storms. More extensive flow-based modelling demonstrates that bulk electric fields in excess of 10 kV m −1 can be obtained rapidly (in less than 10 s) from rotating dust systems (dust devils) and that terrestrial breakdown fields can be obtained. Modelled profiles of electrical conductivity in the Martian atmosphere suggest the possibility of dust electrification, and dust devils have been suggested as a mechanism of charge separation able to maintain current flow between one region of the atmosphere and another, through a global circuit. Fundamental new understanding of Martian atmospheric electricity will result from the ExoMars mission, which carries the DREAMS (Dust characterization, Risk Assessment, and Environment Analyser on the Martian Surface)-B R.G. Harrison

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“…Solar activity increased during the twentieth century, and a greater change occurred in approximately the first half of the century than the second half of the century (Lockwood, 2001). Most atmospheric electricity measurements in the first half of the twentieth century were made at the surface (Harrison, 2004), but a 1909 to 1959 reduction in lower atmosphere ion production is apparent in early European balloon-carried atmospheric electricity measurements (Harrison and Bennett, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-station synthesis of early twentieth century surface atmospheric electricity measurements for upper tropospheric properties

Harrison

Bennett

2007

Adv. Geosci.

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Abstract. The vertical columnar current density in the global atmospheric electrical circuit depends on the local columnar resistance. A simple model for the columnar resistance is suggested, which separates the local boundary layer component from the upper troposphere cosmic ray component, and calculates the boundary layer component from a surface measurement of air conductivity. This theory is shown to provide reasonable agreement with observations. One application of the simple columnar model theory is to provide a basis for the synthesis of surface atmospheric electrical measurements made simultaneously at several European sites. Assuming the ionospheric potential to be common above all the sites, the theoretical air-earth current density present in the absence of a boundary layer columnar resistance can be found by extrapolation. This is denoted the free troposphere limit airearth current density, J 0 . Using early surface data from 1909 when no ionospheric potential data are available for corroboration, J 0 is found to be ∼6 pA m −2 , although this is subject to uncertainties in the data and limitations in the theory. Later (1966Later ( -1971 European balloon and surface data give J 0 =2.4 pA m −2 .

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The Global Atmospheric Electrical Circuit and Climate

Cited by 123 publications

References 121 publications

The global lightning-induced nitrogen oxides source

The global lightning-induced nitrogen oxides source

Applications of Electrified Dust and Dust Devil Electrodynamics to Martian Atmospheric Electricity

Multi-station synthesis of early twentieth century surface atmospheric electricity measurements for upper tropospheric properties

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