Microphysics of Atmospheric Phenomena

This book investigates elementary processes in the Earth's atmosphere involving photons,electrons, ions, radicals, and aerosols. It is based on global atmospheric models such as thestandard atmospheric model with averaged atmospheric parameters across the globe andover time, the Earth's energetic balance, and the global electric circuit that allows to analyzefundamental atmospheric properties to be analyzed. Rate constants of elementary processesin the Earth's atmosphere, together with measured atmospheric parameters and existingconcepts of atmospheric phenomena, are used in the analysis of global and local atmosphericprocesses. Atmospheric photoprocesses result from the interaction of solar radiation withthe atmosphere and processes involving ions, oxygen atoms, excited atomic particles andozone molecules. Atmospheric electricity as a secondary phenomenon to atmospheric watercirculation results in a chain of processes that begins with collisions of water aerosols indifferent aggregate states. Cosmic rays are of importance for atmospheric electricity, asthey create positive and negative ions in the air. Air breakdown in an electric field ofclouds in the form of lightning may develop under the influence of cosmic ray-created seedelectrons, which are necessary for electron multiplication in ionization wave-streamers. Theupper atmosphere (ionosphere) is formed under solar radiation in a vacuum ultravioletspectrum, and absorption of this radiation leads to air photoionization. The greenhouseeffect is determined by atmospheric water, whereas transitions between a water vapor andaerosols may lead to a change in atmospheric optical depth. Carbon dioxide contributesin small portions to the atmospheric greenhouse effect. Cosmic rays are of importancefor atmospheric discharge, the origin of lightning and cloud formation in the first stageofaerosol growth. This book provides a qualitative description of atmospheric propertiesand phenomena based on elementary processes and simple models.