Vertical electric field - Vostok from 2006-2011
Entry ID:
ASAC_974_2
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Summary
Abstract:
These data are collected under a collaborative arrangement between the Australian Antarctic Division (Principal Investigator: Gary Burns) and the Russian Antarctic Expeditions (Most-recent contact: Alexandr Frank-Kamenetsky, Institute of Arctic and Antarctic Studies, St Petersburg) In late December 2005 (call it from 2006) a new electric field mill (EFM)commenced operation at Vostok. This ... electric field mill is mounted on an all metal post ~3m above the snow surface. This EFM is different in operation and deployment from an earlier instrument that operated 1998-2002 and 2004 which was mounted on a 1.5m metal pole at deployment.
Only 'unprocessed' data and a text file of in-field calibration data are included with this download. No selection has been made of 'fair-weather' data.
Filenames of 'unprocessed' data are of the form VOSEF1-2006-002-0000.log
VOSEF1 indicates that the data are of Vostok electric field data
2006 indicates the year
002 indicates the day of year
0000 indicates that this is the first file for that day [If there has been continuous data collection, it will be the only file for the day. If the instrument has stopped and been restarted, this number is incremented]
The file is written in ASCII format.
A fileheader is included with each file, of the form:
; EFM Log File
; Date Opened Monday, 2 January 2006 00:00:00 ; ; 1 - DOY ; 2 - TimeStamp ; 3 - RPM ; 4 - Field ; 5 - Cal State ; 6 - Rotor Temperature ; DOY, timestamp, RPM, Field, Cal, Rotor Temp
002,2006-01-02 00:00:00,1618,3958654,0,5.68
'DOY' is Day-Of-Year
'timestamp' is date and time, in Universal time.
'RPM' is 'rotations per minute', the speed of rotation of the dipole. For most of the year this value is not correctly recorded.
'Field' is just the raw digital value of the measurement 'Cal' there are two internal calibrations possible. A cal state of '1' indicates an internal 'zero level' check and a cal state of '2' indicates a fixed voltage offset (never fully calibrated). A '0' cal state indicates an atmospheric measurement was being made. From about 16th January 2006 on, no internal calibration have been activated. The cal state is always '0' indicating an atmospheric measurement is being made.
'Rotor Temperature' is the temperature of the electronics in degrees C.
Up until 16th January 2006 various tests and comparisons were being made with the instrument and while the 'unprocessed' data fro this early interval is provided, regular measurements commenced at this date.
The 'Field' raw values are relative vertical geoelectric field measurements collected every 10 seconds. They are positive for a field directed downward.
Each month the EFM is calibrated by placing a Faraday Box over the instrument. A separate calibration ASCII text file for each year [e.g. EFM_Cal_2006.txt] indicates the calibration results. These have not been applied to the data supplied. Care needs to be taken as difficulties with the calibration procedure (for example ice in one side of the calibration cables) have been known to occur. These issues are discussed, when noticed, in the calibration text file. Applying the calibration results to the raw data does not yield absolute values. They are determined relative to the 'calibration box', but as the compression associated with the instrumentation is unknown, data can only be regarded as relative not absolute measurements. As a rough estimate, dividing the 'field' value by 10,000 yields an value approximately equal to the 'volts per metre', positive downward, relative to the calibration box. Note: the instrument compression associated with the 'installed-in-2006' EFM is significantly different to the 1998-2004 Vostok EFM, principally but not exclusively due to the different heights of the mill.
For the 'unprocessed' data supplied no selection for 'fair-weather' has been made. A method of selecting 'fair-weather' data for the 1998-2002 data is described in: Burns, G.B., Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Troshichev, O.A., Bering, E.A., Reddell, B.D. (2005) Interannual consistency of bi-monthly differences in diurnal variations of the ground-level, vertical electric field. Journal of Geophysical Research 110, D10106. doi:10.1029/2004JD005469. This method cannot be directly applied to the post-2006 data due to the different 'instrument compression'
Gary Burns is working on a 'fair weather' selection of the Vostok post-2006 data, and a comparison with coincident vertical electric field measurements at Concordia.
The ASAC_974 project formally concluded in June 2011, but the Russians (contact: Alexandr Frank-Kamenetsky, Institute of Arctic and Antarctic Studies, St Petersburg) have continued data collection at Vostok after this time, under an agreement to utilise the Australian developed equipment.
Taken from the 2008-2009 Progress Report:
Public summary of the season progress:
Two papers showing a sun-weather association (ground pressure and clouds with solar wind) and linking the process to the atmospheric circuit have been published. These support a process via which solar variability influences weather via the atmospheric circuit.
Vertical electric field data were collected at Vostok over 2008.
An electric field mill was deployed at Dome C (Concordia) to help distinguish global and local influences on the atmospheric circuit.
A web-site detailing the IPY SLAP [Solar Linkages to Atmospheric Processes] project has been maintained [http://globalcircuit.phys.uh.edu/SLAP/SLAP_web_content.htm].
World Wide Lightning Location Network VLF receivers operated at Davis (and Kingston) during 2008 [http://webflash.ess.washington.edu/]
Taken from the 2009-2010 Progress Report:
Public summary of the season progress:
Global warming leads to enhanced atmospheric convection. Associated electrical activity (thunderstorms and electrified clouds) dominantly drives a globally-uniform atmospheric circuit linking the ionosphere to the surface. Four papers investigating atmospheric convection linkages to the ionosphere were published.
Electric field data were collected at Vostok and Concordia on the Antarctic Plateau to measure the atmospheric circuit. The dominance of a global signal (atmospheric convection) in these measurements and an improved understanding of local contributions (solar wind and local meteorology) were obtained.
A World Wide Lightning Location Network receiver was re-established at Davis. This contributes to a global lightning detection network [http://webflash.ess.washington.edu/]
See also the metadata records with the IDs - ASAC_974_1 and ASAC_974_Concordia. 
Related URL
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Description:
Download point for the data - text files
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Geographic Coverage
(Click for Interactive Map)
Spatial coordinates
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N: -78.45
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S: -78.55
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E: 107.15
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W: 107.05
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Data Set Citation
Dataset Originator/Creator:
Gary Burns
Dataset Title:
Electric Field Mill Measurements
Dataset Series Name:
AAS#974
Dataset Release Date:
2013-03-20
Dataset Release Place:
Kingston
Dataset Publisher:
Australian Antarctic Division
Data Presentation Form:
text
Online Resource:
http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/portal/download_file.cfm?file_id=841
Temporal Coverage
Start Date:
2005-12-28
Stop Date:
2011-12-31
Data Resolution
Temporal Resolution:
10 second
Quality
Specific caveats on the Vostok EF data, post 2006:
Only 'unprocessed' data are supplied at present. They have not been selected for 'fair-weather'.
A calibration file is available for each year. This has not been applied to the data. Care must be taken when applying the monthly calibration data because mis-calibration is possible (e.g. snow in a connector). Where these difficulties are known, they are noted in the calibration file. When applied, the calibrations only relate the measurements to the calibration box and are not absolute measurements. The 'compression factor' of the instrument is unknown. They measurements should be regarded as 'relative' not 'absolute' values.
The EFM installed in January 2006 is still operational at this date.
Access Constraints
These data are available for download from the URL given below.
Only 'unprocessed' data (no selection for 'fair-weather') are available along with a calibration file for which caveats are given at meta-data Quality.
Data Set Progress
COMPLETE
Distribution
Distribution Media:
HTTP
Distribution Size:
136 MB
Distribution Format:
text
Fees:
free
Personnel
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Phone:
+61 3 6232 3381
Fax:
+61 3 6232 3496
Email:
gary.burns at aad.gov.au
Contact Address:
Australian Antarctic Division
203 Channel Highway
City:
Kingston
Province or State:
Tasmania
Postal Code:
7050
Country:
Australia
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+1 972 883 2838
Email:
tinsley at utdallas.edu
Contact Address:
MS WT15, Center of Space Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas
800 W Campbell Rd
City:
Richardson
Province or State:
TX
Postal Code:
75080-3021
Country:
USA
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
+7 812 352 1149
Fax:
+7 812 352 2688
Email:
al_frank at aari.nw.ru
Contact Address:
ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC Research Institute
Bering St 38
City:
St Petersberg
Postal Code:
199397
Country:
Russia
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
+7 812 352 1149
Fax:
+7 812 352 2688
Email:
olegtro at aari.nw.ru
Contact Address:
ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC Research Institute
Bering St 38
City:
St Petersberg
Postal Code:
199397
Country:
Russia
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+1 713 743 3543
Fax:
+1 713 743 3589
Email:
eabering at uh.edu
Contact Address:
University of Houston
Physics Department
City:
Houston
Province or State:
Texas
Postal Code:
77204-5506
Country:
USA
Publications/References
Burns, G.B., Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Troshichev, O.A., Bering, E.A., Papitashvili, V.O. (1998), The geoelectric field: a link between the troposphere and solar variability., Annals of Glaciology, 27, 651-654
Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Burns, G.B., Troshichev, O.A., Papitashvili, V.O., Bering, E.A., French, W.J.R. (1999), The geoelectric field at Vostok, Antarctica: its relation to the interplanetary magnetic field and the cross polar cap potential difference., Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 61, 1347-1356
Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Troshichev, O.A., Burns, G.B., Papitashvili, V.O. (2001), Variations of the atmospheric electric field in the near-pole region related to the interplanetary magnetic field, Journal of Geophysical Research, 106, A1, 179-190
Corney, R.C., Burns, G.B., Michael, K., Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Troshichev, O.A., Bering, E.A., Papitashvili, V.O., Breed, A.M., Duldig, M.L. (2003), The influence of polar-cap convection on the geoelectric field at Vostok, Antarctica, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 65, 345-354
Burns, G.B., Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Troshichev, O.A., Bering, E.A., Reddell, B.D. (2005), Interannual consistency of bi-monthly differences in diurnal variations of the ground-level, vertical electric field., Journal of Geophysical Research, 110, D10106, doi:doi:10.1029/2004JD005469
Burns, G.B., Tinsley, B.A., Klekociuk, A.R., Troshichev, O.A., Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Duldig, M.L., Bering, E.A., Clem, J.M. (2006), Antarctic polar plateau vertical electric field variations across heliocentric current sheet crossings., Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 68, 639-654
Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Troshichev, O.A., Morozov, V.N., Burns, G, Corney, R. (2006), Relation between the near-Earth electric-field at high latitudes and intense cloud-to-ground lightning strokes initiating VLF emission bursts. Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, 46, 3, 382-388
Tinsley, B.A., Zhou, L., Burns, G. (2006), Forcing of clouds and climate by the global electric circuit., Abstracts of the SCAR Open Science Conference, Hobart, 12-14 July 2006. (Poster)
Burns, G.B., Tinsley, B.A., Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V., Bering, E.A. (2007), Interplanetary magnetic field and atmospheric electric circuit influences on ground-level pressure at Vostok., Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, D04103, doi:doi:10.1029/2006JD007246
Tinsley, B.A., Burns, G.B., Zhou, L. (2007), The role of the global electric circuit in solar and internal forcing of clouds and climate, Advances in Space Research, 40, 1126-1139
Burns, G.B., Tinsley, B.A., French, W.J.R., Troshichev, O.A., Frank-Kamenetsky, A.V. (2008), Atmospheric circuit influences on ground-level pressure in the Antarctic and Arctic, Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, D15112, doi:doi:10.1029/2007JD009618
Kniveton, D.R., Tinsley, B.A., Burns, G.B., Bering, E.A., Troshichev, O.A. (2008), Variations in global cloud cover and the fair-weather vertical electric field, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 70, 1633-1642
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2010-04-15
Last DIF Revision Date:
2013-03-25
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