Stratospheric electric field measurements with transmediterranean balloons

The horizontal component of the stratospheric electric field was measured using a balloon in the ODISEA Campaign of Transmediterranean Balloon Program. The balloon flew between Trapani (Sicily) and El Arenosillo (Huelva, Spain) along the 39oN parallel at a height between 34 Km and 24 Km. The high values found for the field on fair-weather and its quasi turbulent variation, both in amplitude and direction, are difficult to explain with the classical electric field sources. A new source, first described by Holzworth /1/, is considered as possibly causing them.