MODELING RESULTS OF THE TURBULENT SURFACE LAYER ELECTRODYNAMIC STRUCTURE

Abstract

The article presents the results of mathematical modeling of turbulent surface layer electrodynamic structure. A model of a stationary turbulent electrode effect operating near the earth's surface is used. The analysis of equations by methods of similarity theory allowed us to make a number of reasonable physical assumptions that allowed us to obtain analytical solutions. Analytical formulas have been obtained for calculating the profiles of concentrations of small ions (aeroions), the density of the space electric charge and the electric field strength in a turbulent electrode layer. As a result of mathematical modeling, the dependences electrical characteristics in surface layer on the values of the electric field, the turbulent mixing degree and aerosol pollution of the atmosphere are investigated. It is shown that the parameter of the electrode effect (the ratio of the values of the electric field strength on the earth's surface and at the upper boundary of the electrode layer) practically does not depend on atmospheric conditions, whereas the height of the electrode layer and, accordingly, the scale of the distribution of the electrical characteristics of the surface layer vary significantly. The intensification of turbulent mixing in the surface layer leads to an increase in the height of the electrode layer and, as a consequence, the scale of distribution of its parameters. The strengthening of the electric field or air pollution by aerosol particles of sufficient concentration leads to a decrease in its height. An increase in the concentration of aerosol particles in the atmosphere reduces the values of the electric charge density at the earth's surface. Theoretical calculations are in good agreement with experimental data and the results of numerical modeling of the surface layer electrical structure. The analytical formulas obtained in the work for calculating the electrical characteristics of the surface layer and the results of calculations can be useful in solving a number of applied problems of geophysics, in particular for monitoring the electrical state of the atmosphere.