Quantifying the Effect of the Upper Atmospheric Electric Potential on Lower Atmospheric Temperature and Pressure

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Weather and climate prediction are inevitably limited by incomplete knowledge of the Earth system and its external influences. One under-explored and consequently controversial area of research is the meteorological influence of the Sun through processes other than direct radiation, such as variations in the Earth-ionosphere electric potential in the global electric circuit driven by solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions. Previous work has suggested that a relationship exists (often termed the Mansurov effect) but previous correlations have been indirect and the effects most likely underestimated. BAS has considerable expertise in the measurement and understanding of the ionospheric electric potential pattern using the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). We propose to use 15 years of SuperDARN electric potential measurements from both the northern and southern hemispheres to conduct the most comprehensive analysis to date of the relationship between the ionospheric electric potential and atmospheric temperature and pressure. If this analysis confirms a significant relationship then its consequences for weather and climate will be assessed by studying the climatologies for different ionospheric potential states and evaluating the possible effects on atmospheric modes like the North Atlantic Oscillation.