Formation of electrically active layers in the atmosphere with temperature inversion

• Published in: Izvestiya. Atmospheric and oceanic physics 2012-07, Vol.48 (4), p.391-400
• Main Authors: Anisimov, S. V., Galichenko, S. V., Shikhova, N. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric sciences; Boundary layers; Climatology; Convection; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Electric fields; Geophysics/Geodesy; Marine; Planetary boundary layer; Spatial distribution; Temperature; Temperature inversions; Turbulence
• ISSN: 0001-4338; 1555-628X
• DOI: 10.1134/S0001433812040020

The dynamics of the electric field in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) is thoroughly studied from in situ observations of the aeroelectric field and the height profiles of the wind-velocity components in the conditions of temperature inversion and incipient convection. It is established that the formation of a layer with temperature inversion is accompanied by a positive trend in the intensity of the aeroelectric field and by the generation of short-period aeroelectric pulsations. The transfer of a spatially nonuniform space charge and the formation of electrically active layers in PBL are studied by numerical modeling. The response of the electric field to the motion of the space charges simulating the coherent structures of electrogasdynamical turbulence is investigated for the vicinity of the observation point. The key parameters of the model distributions of the space charge are analyzed. The linear dimensions of the model structures range from 20 to 500 m, and the density of the transported charge varies from 0.1 to 1 nC/m 3 . The layer containing the model structures is located at a height of 60–300 m. It is shown that the spatial distribution and the transfer of the space charge form the dynamical component of the aeroelectric field in the surface layer. The short-period aeroelectric pulsations are induced by the transfer of the spatially heterogeneous space charge in PBL, while the positive trend is due to the accumulation of the space charge below the inversion layer. When the inversion was recorded by a sodar, the intensity of the field at the onset of the convection increased at a rate of 100 V/(m h) on average.