Measurements of positive ions and air-earth current density at Maitri, Antarctica

TL;DR

This study reports measurements of positive ions and air-earth current density at Maitri, Antarctica, revealing diurnal variations linked to weather conditions and demonstrating ion scavenging by snowfall and particle formation processes.

Contribution

It provides new insights into ion behavior, diurnal variations, and particle formation mechanisms at Antarctic coastal conditions.

Findings

Intermediate positive ions show diurnal variation on fair days

Snowfall scavenges ions and affects ion concentrations

Particle formation via photolytic nucleation explains ion variations

Abstract

Simultaneous measurements of the small-, intermediate- and large- positive ions and air earth current density made at a coastal station, Maitri at Antarctica during January to February 2005, are reported. Although, small and large positive ion concentrations do not show any systematic diurnal variations, variations in them are almost similar to each other. On the other hand, variations in intermediate positive ion concentrations are independent of variations in the small/large positive ions and exhibit a diurnal variation which is similar to that in atmospheric temperature on fair weather days with a maximum during the day and minimum during the night hours. No such diurnal variation in intermediate positive ion concentration is observed on cloudy days when variations in them are also similar to those insmall/large positive ion concentrations. Magnitude of diurnal variation in intermediate positive ion concentration on fair weather days increases with the lowering of atmospheric temperature in this season. Scavenging of ions by snowfall and trapping of Alha - rays from the ground radioactivity by a thin layer of snow on ground, is demonstrated from observations. Variations in intermediate positive ion concentration are explained on the basis of the formation of new particles by the photolytic nucleation process.