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

Harrison, R. G., Joshi, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2948-2811 and Pascoe, K. (2011) Inferring convective responses to El Niño with atmospheric electricity measurements at Shetland. Environmental Research Letters, 6 (4). ISSN 1748-9326

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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'.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climatic Research Unit
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Depositing User: Rhiannon Harvey
Date Deposited: 01 Feb 2012 10:38
Last Modified: 26 Jul 2023 09:38
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/36694
DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/044028

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