Latitudinal–seasonal distributions of the modeled near-surface electrical state during the MY 34 dust-storm season. Rows correspond to Δϕ = 2, 4, and 6 V. Columns show the vertical electric field E_z (left), the breakdown field E_b (middle), and the ratio E_z/E_b (right). White dashed lines mark the approximate onset and late-decay phases of the storm interval. The largest E_z values occur during the early to mature storm stage and are concentrated mainly from low latitudes into the northern tropics, whereas E_b remains comparatively smooth and zonally organized. Regions where E_z/E_b approaches unity are localized, indicating that breakdown-favorable conditions arise only within restricted parts of the storm.