Have come across this weather related study that examines a correlation with lightning activities in the tropics and how this affects the high altitude electrical conditions of higher latitudes and the local weather in the shape of cloud formation. Mention it here as earlier in this thread it was outlined how some entities might move from ground locations through the electrical charge of lightning and then flow towards the Poles on the current flow. This study draws attention to such a stimulus of current flows as a result of lightning, thought that it might interest as it highlights the existence of such current flows and the existence of a complex global electrical network.

"Inferring convective responses to El Niño with atmospheric electricity measurements at Shetland

R G Harrison1, M Joshi2 and K Pascoe1


1 Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 243, RG6 6BB, UK
2 NCAS Climate, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 243, RG6 6BB, UK

Received 22 September 2011
Accepted 1 December 2011
Published 22 December 2011

Abstract. Pacific ocean temperature anomalies associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulate atmospheric convection and hence thunderstorm electrification. The generated current flows globally via the atmospheric electric circuit, which can be monitored anywhere on Earth. Atmospheric electricity measurements made at Shetland (in Scotland) display a mean global circuit response to ENSO that is characterized by strengthening during 'El Niño' conditions, and weakening during 'La Niña' conditions. Examining the hourly varying response indicates that a potential gradient (PG) increase around noon UT is likely to be associated with a change in atmospheric convection and resultant lightning activity over equatorial Africa and Eastern Asia. A secondary increase in PG just after midnight UT can be attributed to more shower clouds in the central Pacific ocean during an 'El Niño'."

http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/...4028/fulltext/