Measurements of the electric potential during the total solar eclipse of August 30, 1905, at Tripoli, Barbary

The writer participated in the expedition which the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington had entrusted in 1905 to Professor Palazzo, with the object of studying within or near the region of totality the variations of the elements of atmospheric electricity and of terrestrial magnetism. Professor Palazzo delegated to him the part relating to the electric and actinometric measurements; this report is confined to an account of the electric observations. The plan prepared for the making of the electric measurements was very simple, and consisted in obtaining the continuous course of the potential on the day of the eclipse and during several days before and after the eclipse. The station chosen was Tripoli, Barbary, the apparatus having been set up on the upper floor of the Italian Royal Technical Commercial School. As was natural the electric conductors were placed on the terrace above, whereas the rooms immediately below the same were chosen for the placing of the electrometers.