Finite-difference analysis of the atmosphere electric field distribution around a thunderstorm monomer
In this study, two-dimensional finite difference method (2D FDM) is adopted to simulate the electric field distribution around four typical thunderstorm monomers which have different heights, scales and charge distributions. This paper analyses the impact and its range of ground electric field caused by different thunderstorm monomers. This paper also gives a scientific definition and quantitative analysis for the detection range of ground atmospheric electric field meter which is a crucial tactical index. The results in this study have certain significance in theory and practical guidance for thunderstorm monitoring by using networking atmospheric electric field meters.
THE NEW INVERTED ELECTRIC FIELD MILL
The paper introduces a new inverted electric field mill. The electric field mill measures the intensity and polarty of atmospheric electric field to forecast the po tential thunderstorm and electric shock in local area. It can be used safely as a monitor of the warning in places where are likely regions for the occurrence of static electricity and thunderstorm, for example, meteorological conditions for space-flight, aviation, oil, electric power, mine and open-air stadium.
Atmospheric drag effects on the KOMPSAT-1 satellite during geomagnetic superstorms
We examine the atmospheric drag on the low earth-orbiting satellite, KOMPSAT-1 in a sun-synchronous orbit at ~685-km altitude starting in 1999, during a 3-month (October-December) period in 2003. This 3-month interval includes the October 29-30 and November 20 magnetic superstorms and weak to moderate storms. We observed that the daily KOMPSAT-1 drag acceleration transiently responses to transient storm-time disturbances. That is, there is an one-to-one correspondence between the KOMPSAT-1 drag accelerations and the storm events. We find that the drag acceleration correlates strongly with the level of geomagnetic disturbance. This indicates that the trajectory of KOMPSAT-1 is significantly perturbed during extremely disturbed intervals because of atmospheric density increase. The main contributor to the density increase is Joule heating associated with the geomagnetic activity rather than the solar EUV radiation, as reported by previous studies. We suggest that understanding how the upper atmosphere responses to the geomagnetic-associated heating is important to predict space weather impacts on low earth-orbiting satellites.