Parameterization of the heating in the middle stratosphere due to solar wind-induced electric currents

A new mechanism of thermal heating in the middle stratosphere by the solar wind-induced electric currents is proposed. This process occurs mostly at 20-30 km altitude where a permanent layer of heavy ion-clusters is produced by the galactic cosmic rays and by some other sporadically occurring sources. The currents in this layer control the electric fields in the stratosphere. Numerical estimation of the possible atmospheric heating rate due to this process shows that such heating could reach 1-2 K/day that is comparable to the heating due to the absorption of the solar UV radiation. Thus, the electric fields and currents induced by the solar wind energy are candidates for producing relevant additional heating in the middle stratosphere (altitudes 20-30 km). This process may alter the thermal structure of the polar stratosphere and the structure of the polar stratospheric vortex, and as a result, the global climate/weather system. In this paper, we describe the parameterization of this heating suitable for the application in climate and general circulation models. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.