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Atmospheric electricity, geological heterogeneities and hydrogeological processes
1  Oil and gas research institute Russian academy of sciences 3 Gubkina street 119333, Moscow, Russia

Abstract:

A physical model representation of hydrogen, methane, radon, and elements of surface atmospheric electricity is constructed. Bubble formations of volatile gases capture from the depth of 4-6 m soil radon and carry it into the near-surface layers of the soil and atmosphere. In the process of ionization of atmospheric air, light ions responsible for polar air conduction are formed, and recombination of light ions with neutral condensation nuclei leads to the appearance of heavy ions, which determine the atmospheric electric field. The concentration of ground radon is at least 100 times greater than the radon concentration of the atmosphere. This means that elements of surface atmospheric electricity are extremely sensitive to the density of hydrogen and methane fluxes.
The increased content of methane over the oil deposit leads to an increase in radon exhalation, to a fall in the atmospheric electric field. Increased discharge of hydrogen and methane into the atmosphere is observed in fault zones, above the karst cavities. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the electrical conductivity of air and the fall of the atmospheric electric field.
The pumping of artesian water minimizes the release of volatile gases into the atmosphere, which causes an increase in the atmospheric electric field. The injection of fluid into the ground leads to the reverse process - the fall of the atmospheric electric field.

Keywords: hydrogen, methane, radon. atmospheric electric field, polar air conductivities
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