This project funded by Poland National Science Center at Institute of Geophysics PAS is aimed at both analysis of the long-term observations from Świder atmospheric electricity station, and making progress on the modelling of the Global Astmospheric Electric Circuit (GEC) with the EGATEC model (Odzimek et al. 2010). We will analyse both experimental observatory datasets and model data calculated by the EGATEC model. The experimental data will come from the long series of measurements (1957-2005) of the Geophysical Observatory of the Institute of Geophysics PAS in Świder, Poland (52°07′ N, 21°14′ E). We aim to give the data series a new digital life by digitising it from published paper Observatory yearbooks. By this action we anticipate providing opportunities for a fresh insight into the electrical environment of the mid-latitude station. The dataset will also serve validation purposes for the EGATEC model that urgently requires further developments. EGATEC runs will be made for the period 1998-2006, at present limited by the availability of input atmospheric datasets the model relies on. We will identify necessary changes and seek possibilities of further improvements to the model. We plan to complete this project with an international workshop on GEC modelling that will support collaboration on this research field world-wide.
Publications:
Pawlak, I., Odzimek, A., Kępski, D., and Tacza, J.: Diurnal, seasonal, and annual variations of the fair-weather atmospheric potential gradient and effects of reduced number concentration of condensation nuclei on potential gradient and air conductivity from long-term atmospheric electricity measurements at Świder, Poland, Ann. Geophys., 43, 391-416, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-391-2025, 2025.
A. Odzimek, “First decade of atmospheric electricity observations at Świder Observatory” (preprint) https://hgss.copernicus.org/preprints/hgss-2025-9/
Presentations:
A. Odzimek, J. Tacza, D. Kępski: “Review of Results of Global Circuit Modelling by the EGATEC Model Compared With Observational Data”, 17th International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity, 19-24 czerwca 2022, Tel Aviv, Izrael. (poster)
A. Odzimek, I. Pawlak, D. Kępski: “Analysis of long-term variations in fair-weather PG, the positive air conductivity and conduction current density at Geophysical Observatory in Świder, Poland, and implications for the Global Electric Circuit”, European Geophysical Union General Assembly, 23-28 Apr 2023, Vienna, Austria & Online. https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU23/EGU23-977.html
I. Pawlak, D. Kępski, J. Tacza, A. Odzimek, “New analysis of diurnal and seasonal variations in fair-weather atmospheric potential gradient and cloud condensation nuclei measured in S. Kalinowski Geophysical Observatory in Świder, Poland”, European Geophysical Union General Assembly, 23-28 Apr 2023, Vienna, Austria & Online. https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU23/EGU23-978.html (poster)
A. Odzimek, J. Tacza, I. Pawlak, D. Kępski: “Analysis of time variations in the Global Electric Circuit parameters from the EGATEC model and Świder atmospheric electricity data”, EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria & Online, 14-19 Apr 2024, https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/EGU24-1658.html
A. Odzimek, J. Tacza, I. Pawlak, D. Kępski: “Main Periodicities in the Ground-level Atmospheric Electricity Data 1965-2005 from Świder, Poland, Compared with the Global Electric Circuit Parameters and Input Data in the EGATEC Model”, American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, 9-13 Dec 2024, Washington D.C., USA. https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1554034
I. Pawlak, A. Odzimek, J. Tacza, D. Kępski: “Features of Variability in the Long-term (1965-2005) Fair Weather Atmospheric Electric Field and Conductivity at the Geophysical Observatory in Świder, Poland”, American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, , 9-13 Dec 2024, Washington D.C., USA.
https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1553958 (poster)
A. Odzimek, J. Tacza, R.M. Romero Ramirez, D. Kępski, I. Pawlak: The thunderstorm generator in the EGATEC model of the GEC – development and issues, Workshop “Atmospheric Discharges in Dynamic Environments”, 23-27 Jun 2025, University of Bath, UK.
D. Kępski, M. Kubicki, I. Pawlak, A. Piłacik: Long-term observations of thunderstorms at the Geophysical Observatory in Świder, Workshop “Atmospheric Discharges in Dynamic Environments”, 23-27 Jun 2025, University of Bath, UK.
R.M. Romero Ramirez, A. Odzimek, J. Tacza, S. Szpigel, J.-P. Raulin, “Advancing the EGATEC Model: Improving Generator Schemes and Validation with Ground-Based Electric Field Observations”, American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting 2025, 15-19 Dec 2025, New Orleans, USA. https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1939033 (virtual poster)
Datasets:
POLGEC project at the NSC database: https://projekty.ncn.gov.pl/en/index.php?projekt_id=523913