Solar proton events and the fair weather electric field at ground

Abstract

Previous works have demonstrated the ability of solar energetic particles to affect mesospheric electric fields. In this work, we suggest that such particles can also affect the fair-weather electric field at ground level. Our model applies previously derived changes in the high-altitude atmospheric conductivity profile to the global electric circuit. We find that the strongest flare-generated proton events are capable of creating a measurable change to the electric field at ground level (∼5% change), but these changes are small in comparison to those associated with passing thunderstorms.