Correlation between Long-Term Variations in the Vertical Component of the Electric Field in Baikal and Solar Activity

Resumo

The vertical component of the electric field along the surface–bottom baseline was measured for several years in the southwestern part of Baikal. The measurements revealed a correlation between long-term variations in the field that were interpreted as variations in the current in the hydrospheric segment of the global electric circuit with intermittent variations in the solar activity. However, the continuous measurement series were no longer than a year, which is shorter than the maximal quasi-period of the alternating variations. The first continuous two-year measurement series was made in 2014–2016. Its analysis shows quite strong variations with quasi-periods of up to 320 days, which correlate with variations in the solar X-ray flux. The effective delay of the correlation is about four days, which is evidence of an indirect effect of solar activity on the vertical current in the hydrosphere by rather slow atmospheric processes.