Start Date

4-1969 8:00 AM

Description

Synoptic rocket exploration of the stratospheric circulation has revealed the presence of hemispheric tidal circulations that are indicated to be in part characterized by systematic vertical motions in low latitudes of the sunlit hemisphere. These vertical motions are powered by meridional oscillations in the stratospheric circulation produced by solar heating of the stratopause region and serve as the energy source of electrical current systems which are postulated to result from an impressed electromotive force produced by charged particle mobility differences in the lower ionosphere as the tidal circulations tend to force these particles across the earth's magnetic field. These dynamo currents are variable with geometry and time variabilities of the tidal circulations as well as variability in the solar-induced conductivity of the E region. The semiconducting lower atmosphere and highly conducting earth's surface occupy the near field of the lower side of this current system, with a resulting complex tropospheric electrical structure. Paths of lowimpedance electric current along magnetic field lines result in development of currents in the exosphere that are driven and controlled by the electrical structure of the primary dynamo circuit and that exert a control of their own through interaction with the solar wind. The basic physical process providing the required electromotive force for maintenance of the earth's atmospheric environment electrical structure is thus indicated to center in thermally driven tidal motions in the lower ionosphere, with locally observed structure, such as the fair-weather electric field, thunderstorms, lightning discharges, aurora, airglow, electrojets, and radiation belts, playing supporting roles.

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Apr 1st, 8:00 AM

Electrical Structure of the Stratosphere and Mesophere

Synoptic rocket exploration of the stratospheric circulation has revealed the presence of hemispheric tidal circulations that are indicated to be in part characterized by systematic vertical motions in low latitudes of the sunlit hemisphere. These vertical motions are powered by meridional oscillations in the stratospheric circulation produced by solar heating of the stratopause region and serve as the energy source of electrical current systems which are postulated to result from an impressed electromotive force produced by charged particle mobility differences in the lower ionosphere as the tidal circulations tend to force these particles across the earth's magnetic field. These dynamo currents are variable with geometry and time variabilities of the tidal circulations as well as variability in the solar-induced conductivity of the E region. The semiconducting lower atmosphere and highly conducting earth's surface occupy the near field of the lower side of this current system, with a resulting complex tropospheric electrical structure. Paths of lowimpedance electric current along magnetic field lines result in development of currents in the exosphere that are driven and controlled by the electrical structure of the primary dynamo circuit and that exert a control of their own through interaction with the solar wind. The basic physical process providing the required electromotive force for maintenance of the earth's atmospheric environment electrical structure is thus indicated to center in thermally driven tidal motions in the lower ionosphere, with locally observed structure, such as the fair-weather electric field, thunderstorms, lightning discharges, aurora, airglow, electrojets, and radiation belts, playing supporting roles.

 

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