IONOSPHERIC ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AS AN ALTERNATIVE INDICATOR OF SOLAR EFFECT ON THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE

We have explored the possibility of applying the ionospheric electric potential (EP) as a parameter describing the effects of solar activity on the empirical model, where the potential spatial distribution is determined by solar wind, interplanetary magnetic field parameters, and the geomagnetic activity index AL. We have carried out a comparative analysis of EP and the commonly used geomagnetic activity indices in a high-latitude region for 1975-2019. It has been shown that EP can be used as an indicator of solar activity since it describes both short-period disturbances and long-term variations. The revealed similar trends in long-term EP and near-surface temperature variations suggest that the changes in climate system parameters are induced by slower changes in the Sun's large-scale magnetic field. The performed analysis of EP and near surface temperature correlation maps has revealed that the atmospheric static stability conditions have an effect on spatial distribution of tropospheric response to solar impact.