10-09-2014, 02:07 PM
ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY
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Abstract:
Owing to the somewhat explosive development of the science of atmospheric electricity during the past
decade this article covers a broad field of activity. The article begins with a description and discussion of the work
that has been performed to understand the electrical properties of the basic materials involved in generating
processes in the atmosphere. The aspects covered in this paper are the fair-weather conditions, cluster ions
concept, spherical capacitor theory, and the major applications of atmospheric electricity. Even the Fundamental
problem of atmospheric electricity and its solution have been dealt with. The sections covered also include the
electrification of the upper atmosphere and space, and a consideration of the global electrical circuit and its related
electrical `balance sheet'.
Conclusion:
It would be hard to build an array of lighting rods to capture periodic thunderstorm electricity. The biggest
hurdle would really be creating power plant infrastructure that could survive the harsh surges created by lightning
strikes, but even that seems possible with current technology and materials. Electrical and building design
engineers could come up with an innovative way to make it work. Specially designed buffer/insulation and
transformer materials could be used to safely capture and harness the massive amounts of electricity generated
during a lighting strike, and transfer it to large storage device for later use.
Introduction:
Benjamin Franklin was the first to design an
experiment to prove the electrical nature of lightning.
In
July 1750, Franklin proposed that electricity could be
drawn from a cloud by a tall metal pole. If the pole
was insulated from ground, and an observer brought
a grounded wire held by an
Isulating wax handle near the pole, then a spark
would jump from the pole to the wire when an
electrified cloud was nearby. If this was the case, it
would be proved that the clouds were electrically
charged and, consequently, that lightning was also
an electrical phenomenon. In June 1752, Franklin
conducted another experiment with the same
proposal, his famous experiment using a kite.
Instead of use a metal pole he used a kite, since it
could reach a greater elevation than the pole and
could be flown anywhere. One more time sparks
jumped from a key tied to the bottom of the kite string
to his hands. This proved that lightning was also an
electrical phenomenon.
Charge Separation:
Atmospheric electricity involves phenomena which
are connected with the separation of electric charges
in the sub-ionospheric atmosphere (below about 100
km height). In the ionosphere and magnetosphere
there occur strong electric currents originating
directly from the solar-terrestrial interaction; in the
lower atmosphere, there flows a much weaker
electric current in the so-called global circuit, which is
maintained by the thunderstorm activity.