Abstract
Atmospheric electrical data taken on 3744 m high Niwot Ridge, Colorado, during 1966, 1967 and 1968 are reexamined for evidence of a solar-weather link between the earth’s electric field and solar flare events. The onset of the response of the electric field to solar flare events occurs rapidly but dies away slowly. The slow relaxation of the field, together with the necessity to use data taken during periods of good weather, suggest a combined influence of solar emissions and meteorological processes on the observations.
Assuming that any meteorological influence is most likely due to the interaction of the solar emissions with tropospheric clouds, the possible effect of the observed increases in the electric field and conductivity of the free atmosphere on the electrical conditions in cloud is calculated for extensive cloud layers. It is found that the disturbed conditions outside the cloud are magnified inside and are large enough in precipitating clouds to initiate further charging by the polarization-induction charging mechanism.
