Characteristics of Atmospheric Electric Field near the Earth' s Surface Under Different Weather Conditions in Beijing

Wu Ting; Lü Weitao; Liu Xiaoyang; Dong Wansheng; Zhang Yijun; Li Chengcai; Wang Meihua; Yang Jing; Li Changhe

Vol.20, NO.4, 2009

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Journal of Applied Meteorological Science > 2009 > 20(4): 394-401

Wu Ting, Lü Weitao, Liu Xiaoyang, et al. Characteristics of atmospheric electric field near the Earth' s surface under different weather conditions in Beijing. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2009, 20(4): 394-401.

Citation:

Wu Ting, Lü Weitao, Liu Xiaoyang, et al. Characteristics of atmospheric electric field near the Earth' s surface under different weather conditions in Beijing. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2009, 20(4): 394-401.

Citation:

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Characteristics of Atmospheric Electric Field near the Earth' s Surface Under Different Weather Conditions in Beijing

1.
Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081
2.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Bei jing 100871
3.
Beijing Meteorological Equipment Support Center, Beijing 100089

Received Date: 2008-05-20
Rev Recd Date: 2009-02-13
Publish Date: 2009-08-31

Abstract

Abstract

Based on the measurements of atmospheric electric field and various meteorological elements from the rooftop of a building (about 15 m high), the characteristics of atmospheric electric field in different weather conditions are analyzed. Criteria to select fair-weather days are set according to the data of solar radiation, height of cloud base, precipitation amount and wind speed. As a result, 173 days out of nearly fifteen months are determined as fair-weather days. Data of electric field as well as visibility, concentration of PM₁₀ and absolute humidity of these days are averaged respectively to describe their mean diurnal variations and correlations between electric field and various factors. The result indicates that the diurnal variation of electric field in fair-weather exhibits a double oscillation with trough at 05:00 and 12:00 and peak at 07:00 and 23:00 (Beijing time). The seasonal variation of electric field is also obvious. Variation of fair-weather atmospheric electric field is closely related to the variation of aerosol concentrations. Aerosols can absorb small ions, which dominate the conductivity of air. As the concentration of aerosol increases, the concentration of small ions decreases, and the conductivity decreases as well. Finally, the electric field increases. As a result, the fair-weather atmospheric electric field is positively correlated with the aerosol concentrations. Mean diurnal variation waveshape of absolute humidity in fair weather is similar with that of atmospheric electric field. Under some conditions absolute humidity and electric field also exhibit almost simultaneous fluctuations lasting for several hours. These characteristics show the influence of water vapor on atmospheric electric field. In dusty weather, electric field measured at the observatory remains highly negative and changes rapidly. Various quantities in several strong dust events are turbulent to study relationships between different elements. Result shows that there is a strong correlation between electric field and PM₁₀ which reflects the concentrations of sand particles. However, in most cases, there is no obvious correlation between electric field and wind speed. Theoretically, atmospheric electric field in dusty weather is simultaneously determined by quantity of sand particles and wind speed. But the result indicates that the quantity of sand particles plays more important role in the change of atmospheric electric field.
- atmospheric electric field;
- aerosol;
- absolute humidity;
- dusty weather

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References(17)

Figures and Tables

图 1 晴天近地面大气电场日变化

Fig. 1 Diurnal variation of fair-weather atmospheric electric field near the earth' s surface

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图 2 晴天近地面大气电场与能见度 (a)、PM₁₀(b) 的平均日变化

Fig. 2 Mean diurnal variation of fair-weather atmospheric electric field and visibility (a), PM₁₀(b)

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图 3 近地面大气电场与绝对湿度日变化 (a) 晴天平均, (b)2004年10月16日

Fig. 3 Diurnal variation of atmospheric electric field and absolute humidity (a) mean variation in fair weather, (b) on 16 Oct 2004

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图 4 沙尘天气下大气电场、PM₁₀及风速日变化 (a)2005年3月23日, (b)2005年4月19日

Fig. 4 Diurnal variation of atmospheric electric field, PM₁₀ and wind speed in dusty weather on 23 Mar 2005 (a) and 19 Apr 2005 (b)

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图 5 2005年4月19日沙尘天气下电场的剧烈变化

Fig. 5 Rapid change of electric field in dusty weather on 19 Apr 2005

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图 6 各次沙尘天气中电场值与PM₁₀线性拟合 (a) 平均值, (b) 极值

Fig. 6 Linear fitting of average value (a) and extreme value (b) of electric field and PM₁₀ in dusty weather

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表 1 同步观测资料的总体情况

Table 1 General information of synchronous data

表 2 各次沙尘天气的持续时间，电场、PM₁₀、风速的平均值及极值

Table 2 Duration of each dust event, everage and extreme value of electronic field, PM₁₀ and wind speed

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