POSSIBLE SOLAR INFLUENCE ON ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC FIELD

A physical hypothesis for the electrical coupling of the troposphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere has been proposed. It is shown that the vertical mass exchange takes place in the troposphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere by the gravity wave feedback mechanism through a chain of eddy systems. The vertical mass exchange gives rise to a vertical aerosol current which is responsible for the generation and mainte-nance of atmospheric electric field and also the variations in the H-component of the geomagnetic field. Any per-turbation in the troposphere would be transmitted to ionosphere and vice versa. A global perturbation in ionosphere, as the one caused by solar variability, is transmitted to troposphere influencing weather systems/geomagnetic/atmospheric electrification processes.The theory relating to the above physical mechanism is discussed. Also, results of analysis of at-mospheric electrical field data for Colaba, Bombay (8°53’ 56”N, 72° 48’ 54”E, 9.8 m ASL) and solar activity indices (Ap index, DST index and MSB crossing dates) for the 31 year period from 1936-1966 which provide statistical evidence for solar influence on atmospheric electrification processes are presented.