The Electric Field of the Undisturbed Atmosphere in the South of Western Siberia: A Case Study on Tomsk

Currently, many researchers have an interest in the investigation of the electric field in the fair-weather electric environment along with its diurnal and seasonal variations across all regions of the world. However, a similar study in the southern part of Western Siberia has not yet been carried out. In this regard, the paper aims to estimate the mean values of the electric field and their variations in this area using the example of Tomsk. The time series of one-minute average potential gradient values as well as other quantities obtained from the geophysical observatory of the Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMCES SB RAS, Tomsk, Russia) from 2006 to 2020 is used in this study. The mean annual value of the potential gradient in Tomsk is 282 V/m and usually varies from 161 to 372 V/m. The diurnal variations in potential gradient per year on average are characterized by oscillations of the continental type with a double maximum and minimum. The main minimum of diurnal variations is 7 h and the main maximum is 21 h of local time (00 and 14 UTC, respectively). According to the annual mode, the maximum potential gradient is observed in February, and the minimum is recorded in June.

Automated summary

This study aims to investigate the characteristics and variations of the electric field in the southern part of Western Siberia, focusing on the city of Tomsk. The average annual potential gradient in Tomsk is found to be 282 V/m, and it exhibits diurnal variations with continental-type oscillations, with the main minimum occurring at 7:00 local time and the main maximum at 21:00 local time. The annual mode reveals that the maximum potential gradient is observed in February, while the minimum is recorded in June.