Global Electric Circuit Dynamics and Atmospheric Electricity
Summary
The Global Electric Circuit (GEC) describes the continuous flow of electric charge between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere, driven by thunderstorm activity and maintained by a small but steady current in fair-weather regions. Electrified convective systems and lightning discharges deposit charge into the upper atmosphere, raising the ionospheric potential to several hundred kilovolts. This potential drives a conduction current of atmospheric ions toward the ground, establishing a near-global electric field or potential gradient at the surface. Cosmic rays and solar particles ionise the atmosphere, modulating its conductivity and influencing current flow. Clouds alter the return path by modifying conductivity stratifications at their boundaries, leading to charge accumulation at cloud edges and affecting microphysical processes such as droplet growth and precipitation formation. Measurements of the potential gradient and air–earth current at distributed sites provide insight into variations induced by weather systems, space-weather events and long-term climate change. Improved instrumentation and coordinated networks have enhanced our ability to monitor diurnal and seasonal patterns, contributing to a deeper understanding of the GEC’s role in weather forecasting, climate teleconnections and environmental monitoring.
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Global Electric Circuit Dynamics and Atmospheric Electricity publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in global electric circuit dynamics and atmospheric electricity across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Global Electric Circuit (GEC): The planet-spanning system of currents linking thunderstorm generators to fair-weather return paths through the atmosphere and ionosphere.
Potential Gradient: The vertical electric field at the Earth’s surface, reflecting the voltage difference between ground and ionosphere under fair-weather conditions.
Conduction Current: The steady flow of atmospheric ions between the ionosphere and ground in regions free of local electrical disturbances.
Fair-Weather Conditions: Meteorological states—absence of precipitation, significant cloud and strong winds—required for representative GEC measurements.
References
- Fair weather criteria for atmospheric electricity measurements. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics (2018).
- A global atmospheric electricity monitoring network for climate and geophysical research. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics (2019).
- On the microphysical effects of observed cloud edge charging. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society (2015).
- On the role of clouds in the fair weather part of the global electric circuit. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2014).
- Influence of short-term solar disturbances on the fair weather conduction current. Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (2014).
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