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Charge separation during splashing of large drops on ice
Author(s) -
Shewchuk S. R.,
Iribarne J. V.
Publication year - 1971
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.49709741303
Subject(s) - materials science , ion , drop (telecommunication) , electrolyte , mechanics , meteorology , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , chromatography , physics , computer science , telecommunications , organic chemistry , electrode
An investigation was performed on the electrification associated with splashing of water drops at 0°C on ice coated rotating spheres. The influence of different parameters was studied: roughness of the surface, drop size, collision speed (up to 30 m s −1 ), liquid composition, including pH, and ice temperature (down to ‐ 20°C). It is shown that the sign of the charge acquired by the ice, usually negative for low temperatures and dilute solutions, becomes positive for temperatures close to 0°C, for large concentrations of electrolyte and for solutions containing ammonium ion. The electrification increases with drop size and with the violence of the impact, while it is strongly reduced by the concentration of hydrogen ion in acid solutions. Flash photographs at high speeds show the splashing process to be similar to that at room temperature on other solid surfaces. The results are discussed in the light of a theory previously developed for splashing at room temperature and of the selective incorporation of ions into the ice. Some speculation is done on the relative importance of the process in clouds.