Height profile of vertical electric field and conductivity over Hyderabad

Abstract

The results of vertical electric field and conductivity measurements carried out in the 17 to 32 kin range on two balloon flights from Hyderabad are presented. These experiments could be flown in the 'piggyback' mode as the payloads were passive and did not require any telemetry support. Electric fields and conductivities were monitored by measuring potential difference between two 10 m long vertical steel wire antennas by a very high (switchable) input impedance amplifier. The height dependence of electric fields and conductivities could be represented as exponentials with scale height of approximately 10 km. There were no significant differences in electric fields, though the flights were conducted in different seasons. The conductivity values, which increased exponentially with height, were, however, higher in the winter flight than in the equinoxial flight.