Correlation Study of Atmospheric Ion Concentrations, Electric Parameters & Space-charge Density between the Earth & Electrosphere

Abstract

Atmospheric electrical properties are derived from the solutions of continuity equation using available data for ion mobilities and initial conditions. Time equilibrium and a small-ion current consisting of altitude invariant drift and diffusion components are assumed. Einstein's relation between mobility and diffusivity is used to obtain ion diffusion coefficient; and ion concentration is found from the expression for diffusion current. The electric field is obtained from the drift current expression. The knowledge of these variables permits the computation of conductivity and space charge density. The theoretical ion concentration increased with altitude, reaching a nearly constant value in the stratosphere. This agrees with the cosmic ionization Thomson recombination theory. Conductivity increased exponentially and the electric field decreased exponentially approximately with altitude, both being in close agreement with measured data. In addition to providing a method of making theoretical prediction of atmospheric electric variables, the procedure presented indicates a method of investigating a small-ion diffusion or mobility by comparing solutions from the continuity equation with those from the assumption of equal-ion generation and recombination rates.