Premium
A simple electrodynamic model of a dust devil
Author(s) -
Farrell William M.,
Delory Greg T.,
Cummer Steven A.,
Marshall John R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl017606
Subject(s) - graupel , triboelectric effect , thunderstorm , electric field , physics , focus (optics) , meteorology , lightning (connector) , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , mechanics , convection , optics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
We present an electrodynamic model of a dust devil applying a similar methodology as performed previously for charging in terrestrial thunderstorms. While thunderstorm processes focus on inductive charging between large graupel and smaller ice and water droplets, we tailor the model to focus on the electric charge transfer between dust grains of different sizes and compositions. We specifically compare and contrast the triboelectric dust charging processes presented previously in Melnik and Parrot [1998] and Desch and Cuzzi [2000] in the development of macroscopic dust devil electric fields. We find that large vertical E‐fields (∼20 kV/m) can develop in the devil.