The Enhancement of High Energy Electron Fluxes and the Variation of the Atmospheric Electric Field in the Antarctic Region

摘要: High-energy electron precipitation in the high latitude regions enhances the ionization of the atmosphere, and subsequently increases the atmospheric conductivities and the vertical electric field of the atmosphere near the ground as well. The high-energy electron flux (HEEF) data measured by the Feng-Yun III meteorological satellite are analyzed together with the data of near-surface atmospheric vertical electric field measured at the Russian Vostok Station. Three HEEF enhancements are identified and show that when the HEEF increases to a certain level, the local atmospheric vertical electric field near the ground can increase substantially than usual. The time of the response of the electric field to the HEEF enhancement is about 3.7 to 4 days (delay time).