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Measurements of space charge in the lower atmosphere using double field mills
Author(s) -
Smiddy M.,
Chalmers J. Alan
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49708636706
Subject(s) - atmosphere (unit) , snow , space charge , space (punctuation) , physics , field (mathematics) , ion , charge (physics) , meteorology , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , atomic physics , nuclear physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , electron , linguistics , philosophy , pure mathematics
Two double field mills (Smiddy and Chalmers 1958) have been used to study space charge in the lowest 5 m of the atmosphere. Results in fair weather show small values, often negative, which can be explained in terms of radioactivity of the ground. Comparison with results from filtration apparatus suggest that the latter may be in error when small ions are present in large numbers. Results in light or moderate rain show small space charges, but in heavy rain, negative space charges of the order of – 1,000 μμc m −3 are found, probably formed by splashing. In snowfall, there are charges of both signs of about ± 500 μμc m −3 .