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Some recent changes in atmospheric electricity and their cause
Author(s) -
Stewart K. H.
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.49708636912
Subject(s) - atmospheric electricity , electricity , environmental science , atmospheric air , ground level , potential gradient , conductivity , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , geology , geography , physics , engineering , ground floor , architectural engineering , quantum mechanics , electric field
Annual mean values of atmospheric electrical potential gradient are tabulated for three British and two Portuguese stations and it is shown that unusual changes have occurred since 1952. These changes could be explained by an increased conductivity of the air near the ground. Measurements of β‐ray ionization made at the British stations indicate that the increase in conductivity has been produced by a surface deposit of radioactive material attributable to nuclear‐test explosions.