SLAP
in scheme: projects
definition: Short Title: Solar Variability Linkages to Atmospheric Processes Project URL: http://ipy.antarctica.gov.au/projects/solar-variability-linkages-to-atmospheric-processes Proposal URL: http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/proposal-details.php?id=56 Solar variability influences the atmosphere, particularly the global electric circuit and ozone. We propose an IPY cluster to quantify solar variability linkages to weather, climate and ozone. The geoelectric circuit links weather and solar activity. It remains an open and a scientifically achievable goal to determine whether or not this linkage is passive or involves active coupling i.e., whether the global circuit merely responds to both meteorological and solar variations, or whether there is an active input to weather and climate via electrically induced changes in cloud microphysics. Present research indicates that the best place to measure the global circuit is the Antarctic plateau (high, dry, relatively meteorologically stable). The Greenland plateau provides an ideal northern hemisphere site. We propose making simultaneous vertical electric field and air-earth current measurements at a range of polar sites (plans presently envisage measurements at Vostok, South Pole and Concordia, 78S 24W, 84S 26W and 75S 70W). We encourage and seek to promote development of further sites, particularly in the northern polar regions. A model of the global circuit is being developed that incorporates spatially and temporally varying global ion production due to the solar wind modulation of galactic cosmic rays, globally varying tropospheric and stratospheric aerosol concentrations and ion production in the stratosphere from relativistic electron precipitation and solar energetic particle events. It is also planned to insert the polar-cap potential distribution driven by solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling into this model. We propose to compare the model and measurements to quantify limits on the hypothesis that the geoelect…
type: Concept

S - U
type: Concept