On coupling between the ionospheric and near-surface atmospheric electric fields 
in the Central Antarctica 
 
Shirochkov A.V. (1),  Frank-Kamenetsky A.V. (1),  Makarova L. N. (1),  Morozov 
V.N. (2), 
(1) Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Saint Petersburg, 199397, 
Russia; 
(2) Main Geophysical Observatory, Saint-Petersburg, 194021, Russia 
 
Regular measurements of the near ground atmospheric electric fields performed 
at Vostok Station in Antarctica demonstrated that intense electric fields (100
5000 V/m) are observed during strong snow storms while these values are about 
100-150 V/m during the periods of good weather. The problem is whether these 
electric fields could re-distribute electric potential in the ionosphere at 
altitudes 100-300 km. This problem was explored by both theoretical and 
experimental methods. It is shown theoretically that only unrealistically giant 
electrical charges (~1000 K) distributed along area of 10000 square kilometers 
could influence distribution of ionospheric electric fields at the height of 100 
km. This influence will be negligible at the height of 300 km. Simultaneous 
observations of the near surface electric fields and the special ionospheric 
phenomena by means of vertical sounding at Vostok Station allows one to check if 
these theoretical evaluations were correct. Appearance of the special flat types 
Es layers in the polar cap ionosphere was taken as manifestation of increased 
ionospheric fields in the E region. It was found that appearance of these 
specific ionospheric events at Vostok Station is primarily connected with 
disturbances in the solar wind but not with abnormal enhancements of the 
near-surface electric fields during intense snow storms.