Vestnik КRAUNC. Fiz.-Mat. Nauki. 2026. vol. 54. no. 2. P. 166 – 200. ISSN 2079-6641

PHYSICS
https://doi.org/10.26117/2079-6641-2026-54-2-166-200
Review Article
Full text in English
MSC 86A10
PACS 52.80.Mg, 92.60.Pw

Contents of this issue

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Dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Professor P.P. Firstov

Electric Activity of Volcanic Clouds and Formation of Local Electric Field in Kamchatka

E. I. Malkin^{\ast}, N. V. Cherneva

Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Radio Wave Propagation FEB RAS, 684034, Paratunka, Elizovo raion, Kamchakskiy kray, Russia

Abstract. The paper summarizes the contribution of Firstov P.P. to experimental studies of the vertical component of the atmospheric electric field (AEF Ez) at Paratunka Observatory (2006–2018). Based on the analysis of 47 publications and a monograph (Cherneva and Firstov, 2018), the key role of seasonal radon outflow in the formation of Ez variations is demonstrated. The basic models of field sources are presented, including the influence of steam-water clouds, cyclones, and volcanic eruptions. In particular, a laboratory experiment with the injection of a steam-water mixture from a geothermal well, simulating the impact of an artificial cloud on the AEF Ez, is described. Examples of the influence of cyclonic activity and eruptive clouds from explosive volcanic eruptions on the AEF Ez are given. Firstov P.P. was interested in this topic because of the region specific features, high intensity of geodynamic processes in the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone (frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) and sudden variability of meteorological parameters due to intense cyclonic activity over the north-western Pacific Ocean. Particular attention is given to Firstov’s initiative to deploy a volcanic thunderstorm recording network in Kamchatka. Using the WWLLN data, the two-stage mechanism for volcanic thunderstorm development was empirically confirmed, and the proposed method for assessing the eruption intensity based on pulsed electromagnetic radiation (PEMR) counting rate is recommended as an early warning tool for ash emissions.

Key words: atmospherics registration, direction, electromagnetic pulses, VLF direction finder, lightning, atmospheric electric field.

Received: 23.07.2026; Revised: 31.08.2026; Accepted: 01.09.2026; First online: 14.09.2026

For citation. Malkin E. I., Cherneva N. V. Electric activity of volcanic clouds and formation of local electric field in Kamchatka. Vestnik KRAUNC. Fiz.-mat. nauki. 2026, 54: 2, 166-200. EDN: RLPGRY. https://doi.org/10.26117/2079-6641-2026-54-2-166-200.

Funding. The work was supported by IKIR FEB RAS State Task (Reg. No. NIOKTR 124012300245-2)

Competing interests. There are no conflicts of interest regarding authorship and publication.

Contribution and Responsibility. All authors contributed to this article. Authors are solely responsible for providing the final version of the article in print. The final version of the manuscript was approved by all authors.

^{\ast}Correspondence: E-mail: malkin@ikir.ru

The content is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

© Malkin E. I., Cherneva N. V., 2026

© Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Radio Wave Propagation, 2026 (original layout, design, compilation)

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