Interplanetary magnetic field and atmospheric electric circuit influences on ground-level pressure at Vostok

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research. D. Atmospheres 2007-02, Vol.112 (D4), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Burns, G. B., Tinsley, B. A., Frank-Kamenetsky, A. V., Bering, E. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: atmospheric electric circuit; Sun-weather relationships; weather and climate influences
• ISSN: 0148-0227; 2156-2202
• DOI: 10.1029/2006JD007246

The Mansurov effect, which for the Southern Hemisphere consists of a positive association between the By component (east‐west) of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the ground‐level pressure for stations poleward of ∼80° magnetic latitude, is confirmed for Vostok (78.5°S, 106.9°E; magnetic latitude 83.6°S) using modern data. The magnitude of the association is small (0.19 hP per nT; 1.2% common covariance) but statistically significant (at the 96.1% level). A more substantial association exists, with a slight delay (2–3 days) and a cumulative influence, between the Vostok station pressure and the local vertical electric field, a proxy for the air‐Earth current Jz. A composite series constructed as a weighted sum of vertical electric field values at lags between 1 and 4 days yields a linear regression gradient with respect to Vostok station‐level pressure of 0.10 hP per Vm−1, 10.0% common covariance and is statistically significant at the 99.9% level. We confirm a previously reported Sun‐weather linkage (the Mansurov effect), provide evidence that the mechanism operates via the atmospheric electric circuit and present data supporting an inferred and more substantial surface pressure response to changes in the global atmospheric circuit.