Most of the past studies have been concentrated towards the average current that flows from the thunderstorm into the global electric circuit, the role of equalization layer, and the variations of electric field for maintaining the ionosphere’s electric potential difference in the atmosphere, which are directed downward between the equipotential surfaces of the ionosphere and ground. The analytical relation for both the electric field and charge density were obtained from the continuity equation for various positions in space and time. A numerical simulation was used to demonstrate the range of validity of the boundary layer, eddy diffusion and the effect of relaxation time on the space charge flow produced by fair-weather atmospheric condition. Using the continuity equation, we obtained the atmospheric space charge distribution at any given height, relaxation times and eddy diffusion of different lengths. Some of the interesting features from the results obtained, show that convection and eddy diffusion play predominant role in the distribution of space charge in fair weather electric field.

Keywords: Maxwell current density, relaxation time, eddy diffusion, space charge.