Abstract/Summary

Data on the atmospheric fair weather electric field obtained during Carnegie cruise VII are plotted as a two dimensional map in Universal Time and month coordinates to show both time and seasonal variations. The maximum of the field is observed at a time around 18 UT in January. For this point in time a model is created for the thunderstorm-related ionospheric part of the global electric circuit in January. The obtained current system consists of both mid-latitude currents and equatorial electrojets, day-time and night-time, westward and eastward, up to 120 A.