Air-earth currents

The focus of the special issue is on air-earth currents. Therefore, the different papers ought to be concerned with, especially to, evidence and phenomena that occur below the ionosphere through some suitable upper layers of the Earth. For instance, hurricanes are a huge topic that involves several disciplines of Earth sciences and could be the object of an encyclopedia. But, the concern is here only about the process that supplies energy to a tropical storm and transforms it into a violent hurricane. The observed phenomenon is SST, which is very likely to be associated with air-earth currents.

We would not like to discuss in this special issue the deep phenomena of the Earth, such as the TD dynamo (driven by the tide) or the origin of the geomagnetic field and related phenomena, major issues that could be addressed separately. Nor would we want special discussions focused on the ionosphere, magnetosphere, and solar wind. Only one exception is planned in this special issue, which refers to the electrostatic Sun. This is a crucial element for the whole reason of the global JTS. In addition, this seems to be a possible explanation for the mysterious cycle of sunspots relevant to the primary power supply of the air-to-earth current generator. The supposed neutral electric charge of the solar wind is just one of the most arbitrary paradigms to be supported, which is why the current special issue wants to focus on all issues directly related to it.

The main problems and directions that can be achieved in the works coupled in this special issue will refer mainly to the following aspects:

• The global Sun-Earth circuit, and the exploitation of the electrostatic energy of the atmosphere.
• The electrostatic Sun.
• Field-aligned currents.
• Satellite monitoring of air-earth currents.
• Recording ground potential gradient.
• E.m. coupling between underground currents and atmosphere.
• E.m. VLF signals correlated with earthquakes.
• Electromagnetic induction underground, and in transoceanic communication cables.
• Planetary CH4 soil exhalation – Seepology.
• Shallow geotherms.
• The energy supply to hurricanes.
• Planetary distribution of lightning discharges.
• Geological evidence of arc blasts (& Stellar Transformer).
• New Concepts in Global Tectonics.
• Polygonal crater formation by electrical discharges.
• Birkeland currents: a force-free field-aligned model.
• Climate change – An unprecedented challenge for humankind's survival.
• Energy exploitation from the atmospheric electrical circuit.
• The Cowling dynamo.