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On the role of transient currents in the global electric circuit
Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Science, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Science, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Science, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
This study examines the way in which different types of lightning, both cloud-to-ground (CG) and intracloud (IC) flashes, drive current in the global circuit. A numerical model of the transient electric field due to CG and IC flashes and their Maxwell relaxation (slow transients) is developed. The electric field (E) and current distributions, the decay time of E, and the total charge transferred to the ionosphere and the ground are calculated. Because of the slow transients, only a portion of the charge neutralized by a flash contributes to the global circuit, with the efficiency depending on the altitudes of the lightning charges. Typical CG flashes have efficiencies of 55–75%, and typical IC flashes have 5–15%. An example from balloon E data has been used to verify the theory. Total current estimations of the combined CG and IC slow transient processes in the global electric circuit range from 50–400 A.
Received 2 May 2008; accepted 23 June 2008; published 12 August 2008.
Citation: (2008), On the role of transient currents in the global electric circuit, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L15810, doi:10.1029/2008GL034554.
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