Inferring convective responses to El Niño with atmospheric electricity measurements at Shetland

R. G. Harrison; M. Joshi; K. Pascoe

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/044028

Inferring convective responses to El Niño with atmospheric electricity measurements at Shetland

R. G. Harrison, M. Joshi, K. Pascoe

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Pacific ocean temperature anomalies associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulate atmospheric convection and hence thunderstorm electrification. The generated current flows globally via the atmospheric electric circuit, which can be monitored anywhere on Earth. Atmospheric electricity measurements made at Shetland (in Scotland) display a mean global circuit response to ENSO that is characterized by strengthening during 'El Niño' conditions, and weakening during 'La Niña' conditions. Examining the hourly varying response indicates that a potential gradient (PG) increase around noon UT is likely to be associated with a change in atmospheric convection and resultant lightning activity over equatorial Africa and Eastern Asia. A secondary increase in PG just after midnight UT can be attributed to more shower clouds in the central Pacific ocean during an 'El Niño'.

Original language	English
Article number	044028
Journal	Environmental Research Letters
Volume	6
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/044028
Publication status	Published - 22 Dec 2011

Access to Document

10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/044028

Cite this

@article{76b54ae43cc345fb8a4eac5988bc90d6,

title = "Inferring convective responses to El Ni{\~n}o with atmospheric electricity measurements at Shetland",

abstract = "Pacific ocean temperature anomalies associated with the El Ni{\~n}o–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulate atmospheric convection and hence thunderstorm electrification. The generated current flows globally via the atmospheric electric circuit, which can be monitored anywhere on Earth. Atmospheric electricity measurements made at Shetland (in Scotland) display a mean global circuit response to ENSO that is characterized by strengthening during 'El Ni{\~n}o' conditions, and weakening during 'La Ni{\~n}a' conditions. Examining the hourly varying response indicates that a potential gradient (PG) increase around noon UT is likely to be associated with a change in atmospheric convection and resultant lightning activity over equatorial Africa and Eastern Asia. A secondary increase in PG just after midnight UT can be attributed to more shower clouds in the central Pacific ocean during an 'El Ni{\~n}o'.",

author = "Harrison, {R. G.} and M. Joshi and K. Pascoe",

year = "2011",

month = dec,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/044028",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

journal = "Environmental Research Letters",

issn = "1748-9326",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Inferring convective responses to El Niño with atmospheric electricity measurements at Shetland

AU - Harrison, R. G.

AU - Joshi, M.

AU - Pascoe, K.

PY - 2011/12/22

Y1 - 2011/12/22

N2 - Pacific ocean temperature anomalies associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulate atmospheric convection and hence thunderstorm electrification. The generated current flows globally via the atmospheric electric circuit, which can be monitored anywhere on Earth. Atmospheric electricity measurements made at Shetland (in Scotland) display a mean global circuit response to ENSO that is characterized by strengthening during 'El Niño' conditions, and weakening during 'La Niña' conditions. Examining the hourly varying response indicates that a potential gradient (PG) increase around noon UT is likely to be associated with a change in atmospheric convection and resultant lightning activity over equatorial Africa and Eastern Asia. A secondary increase in PG just after midnight UT can be attributed to more shower clouds in the central Pacific ocean during an 'El Niño'.

AB - Pacific ocean temperature anomalies associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulate atmospheric convection and hence thunderstorm electrification. The generated current flows globally via the atmospheric electric circuit, which can be monitored anywhere on Earth. Atmospheric electricity measurements made at Shetland (in Scotland) display a mean global circuit response to ENSO that is characterized by strengthening during 'El Niño' conditions, and weakening during 'La Niña' conditions. Examining the hourly varying response indicates that a potential gradient (PG) increase around noon UT is likely to be associated with a change in atmospheric convection and resultant lightning activity over equatorial Africa and Eastern Asia. A secondary increase in PG just after midnight UT can be attributed to more shower clouds in the central Pacific ocean during an 'El Niño'.

U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/044028

DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/044028

M3 - Article

VL - 6

JO - Environmental Research Letters

JF - Environmental Research Letters

SN - 1748-9326

IS - 4

M1 - 044028

ER -