Spectral characteristics of atmospheric pressure and electric field variations under severe weather conditions at high latitudes

Abstract. The time-dependent relationships between atmospheric parameters (electric field, positive and negative conductivity, variations of atmospheric pressure) and different meteorological phenomena (rain, fogs, snowstorms, thunderstorms) were investigated through spectral analysis. These parameters were measured with help of a high-latitude computer-aided complex installed at Apatity (66.5 N, 33.4 E). The complex consists of three spaced microbarographs for measurements of atmospheric pressure variations in the range of periods from 1 s to 40 min, an instrument measuring the vertical component of the electric field, and instrument used for measurements of air conductivity and surface ozone. A computer-aided data-gathering system makes it possible to obtain information in the frequency range between 1 and 0.0001 Hz. The time-dependent frequency analysis showed that the spectral characteristics of both electric field and atmospheric pressure variations changed synchronously during severe weather conditions.