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An auroral effect on the fair weather electric field

Abstract

EVIDENCE is presented here for coupling between the upper and lower atmosphere by electrical means related to aurorae. Electric field data obtained with rocket-launched parachute-borne probes are shown to be consistent with the hypothesis that aurorally-produced radiation can short out vertical electric field ‘cells’ in the mesosphere, with corresponding effects on the lower atmosphere electric field.

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HALE, L., CROSKEY, C. An auroral effect on the fair weather electric field. Nature 278, 239–241 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/278239a0

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