Determination of eddy diffusion coefficients from atmospheric electrical measurements

Abstract

The system of second-order nonlinear differential equations that governs atmospheric electric variables is solved numerically for various values of the strength parameter in an expression for the eddy diffusivity. The solutions show that the atmospheric electric variables are sensitive to changes in the diffusivity and therefore can be used to determine the eddy diffusivity. The numerical results make it possible to determine the diffusivity either from electric field profile measurements or from surface measurements of field and space charge. Data taken over the open ocean are used to demonstrate the usefulness of the method. Ground radioactivity and radioactive gas emissions from the soil make it extremely difficult to apply the same technique over land areas.