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.