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The Earth's Electrical Environment (1986) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 14-15

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From page 14...
... Profiles have led to the detection of convection currents in the planetary boundary layer that are comparable in magnitude with the total current, the electrode effect over water under stable conditions, the response of columnar resistance to pollution, and the diurnal variation in ionospheric potential. In addition to the standard electrical parameters, determinations of ion and aerosol contents and compositions, mobility, and chemistry are all critical to an understanding of conductivity.
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From page 15...
... When the details of this attachment are better understood we should be able to predict with higher probability what will and what will not be struck under various conditions and thereby provide better lightning protection. For example, the positioning of overhead ground wires above power transmission lines and the protection of complex structures could be optimized (see Chapter 5~.
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Key Terms

  • electric field
  • charge separation
  • boundary layer
  • cloud particles
  • power transmission

  • planetary boundary
  • global circuit
  • electrode effect
  • columnar resistance
  • solar wind

  • temporal variations
  • cloud electrification
  • ionospheric potential
  • positive charge
  • electrical structure

  • diurnal variation
  • return stroke
  • field programs
  • lightning protection
  • current density

  • electrical properties
  • total current
  • global electrical
  • numerical models


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