Land effect on the stratospheric vertical electric field and current

The paper reports on some topographical effects on stratosphere electrical properties measured by a balloon-borne electric field/current antenna. Balloon height, electric field, current density, conductivity, and air temperature were continuously recorded as the balloon floated from over the Pacific Ocean, across land, and then over the Japan Sea. Abnormal increases of both the electric field and the current density occurred as the balloon passed over land. Analysis shows the reduction of columnar resistance over land may account for the observed effects.