The Earth's electrical environment / Geophysics Study Committee, Geophysics Research Forum, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council Staff, Corporate Author.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Geophysics Study Committee.

American Geophysical Union.

Series:

Studies in geophysics.

Studies in geophysics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Atmospheric electricity--Environmental aspects--Congresses.

Atmospheric electricity.

Human beings--Effect of environment on--Congresses.

Human beings.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (279 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1986.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This latest addition to the Studies in Geophysics series explores in scientific detail the phenomenon of lightning, cloud, and thunderstorm electricity, and global and regional electrical processes. Consisting of 16 papers by outstanding experts in a number of fields, this volume compiles and reviews many recent advances in such research areas as meteorology, chemistry, electrical engineering, and physics and projects how new knowledge could be applied to benefit mankind.

Contents:

Studies in Geophysics

Copyright

STUDIES IN GEOPHYSICS

Contents

OVERVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Lightning

Cloud Electrification

Electrical Structure of the Atmosphere

The Planetary Boundary Layer

Mid-Troposphere-Stratosphere

Mesosphere

Ionosphere and Magnetosphere

Telluric Currents

Techniques for Evaluating the Electrical Processes and Structure

Societal Impact

Recommendations

References

I LIGHTNING

1 Lightning Phenomenology

SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS OF LIGHTNING

Optical Detectors

Radio Detectors

GROUND OBSERVATIONS OF LIGHTNING

Intracloud Versus Cloud-to-Ground Lightning

Lightning Flash Density

Lightning Flash and Related Characteristics

Lightning Location Networks

CONCLUSIONS

2 Physics of Lightning

CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING

IMPORTANT RESULTS OF RECENT RESEARCH

Time-Domain Fields and Lightning Currents

Locations of Lightning Radio Sources

Artificial Triggering of Lightning

CONCLUSION

3 Positive Cloud-to-Ground Lightning

RECENT AND ONGOING STUDIES

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

AREAS NEEDING ADDITIONAL RESEARCH

4 Acoustic Radiations from Lightning

ACOUSTIC SOURCES IN THUNDERSTORMS

THUNDER-THE RADIATION FROM HOT CHANNELS

Shock-Wave Formation and Expansion

Comparisons with Numerical Simulations and Experiments

Tortuosity and the Thunder Signature

PROPAGATION EFFECTS

Finite-Amplitude Propagation

Attenuation

Scattering and Aerosol Effects

Refraction

MEASUREMENTS AND APPLICATIONS

Propagation Effects Evaluation

Acoustic Reconstruction of Lightning Channels

ELECTROSTATICALLY PRODUCED ACOUSTIC EMISSIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

References.

5 Application of Advances in Lightning Research to Lightning Protection

APPLICATIONS OF NEW LIGHTNING-DETECTION TECHNIQUES TO PROTECTION

AMELIORATION OF LIGHTNING DAMAGE

Mechanisms of Lightning Damage

New Results on Lightning Characteristics

Protection Techniques

FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTION

6 The Role of Lightning in the Chemistry of the Atmosphere

ABSTRACT

NO PRODUCTION BY LIGHTNING

Estimate of P (NO)

The Global Dissipation Rate, R

The Global NO Production Rate, φ(NO)

OTHER TRACE GASES PRODUCED BY LIGHTNING

THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF ATMOSPHERIC DISCHARGES IN CLOUD CHEMISTRY

II CLOUD AND THUNDERSTORM ELECTRICITY

7 Thunderstorm Origins, Morphology, and Dynamics

VERTICAL CONVECTION AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

THE SIZE OF THUNDERSTORMS

Conditioning the Air for Overturning

CONDENSATION AND PRECIPITATION IN RELATION TO AIR MOTION

STRONG CONVECTION

HAIL

TORNADOES

CONCLUDING REMARKS

8 The Electrical Structure of Thunderstorms

ELECTRICAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT

THE MAIN NEGATIVE AND UPPER POSITIVE CHARGES: SOME OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE

INITIAL ELECTRIFICATION

DISCUSSION

PARTICLE-CHARGE OBSERVATIONS

CHARGE MOTIONS AND CURRENTS

LIGHTNING AND THE STORM ELECTRIFICATION

LIGHTNING EVOLUTION

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

9 Charging Mechanisms in Clouds and Thunderstorms

CLOUD STAGE

Diffusion Charging

Drift Charging

Selective Ion Charging

RAIN STAGE

Breakup Charging

Induction Charging

HAIL STAGE

Thermoelectric Charging

Interface Charging

EVALUATION

Cloud Stage

Rain Stage.

Hail Stage

10 Models of the Development of the Electrical Structure of Clouds

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FROM ELECTRICAL MODELS OF THUNDERCLOUDS

MECHANISMS OF CHARGE SEPARATION

Inductive Process

Non-inductive Process

Thermoelectric Effect

Freezing Potentials

Contact Potentials

CHARGING BY ION ATTACHMENT

SURVEY OF THEORETICAL MODELS

Parallel-Plate Models

One-Dimensional Models

Two-Dimensional Models

Three-Dimensional Models

III GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ELECTRICAL PROCESSES

11 Atmospheric Electricity in the Planetary Boundary Layer

PHYSICAL MECHANISMS THAT AFFECT ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY IN THE PLANETARY BOUNDARY LAYER

Ionization

Properties of Ions

Attachment of Ions to Aerosol Particles

Effect of the Global Circuit

Turbulent Transport of Electrical Properties

PHENOMENOLOGY OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY IN THE PLANETARY BOUNDARY LAYER

MODELING AND THEORY

Turbulence Modeling

The Electrode Effect

Convection Currents in the Planetary Boundary Layer

Effect of the Planetary Boundary Layer on the Fair-Weather Electrical Circuit

NEEDED RESEARCH AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

Measurement of Global-Scale Phenomena

Potential Tool for Study of Planetary-Boundary-Layer Turbulence

Ion Physics and Balance in the Planetary Boundary Layer

12 Electrical Structure from 0 to 30 Kilometers

ION PRODUCTION IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE

AEROSOLS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE

ATMOSPHERIC CONDUCTIVITY, SMALL ION CONCENTRATION, AND MOBILITY

AIR-EARTH CURRENT AND ELECTRIC FIELDS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE

13 Electrical Structure of the Middle Atmosphere

SOURCES OF IONIZATION

ION CHEMISTRY IN THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE.

Positive Ions

Negative Ions

Model Calculations

MESOSPHERIC AEROSOLS

CONDUCTIVITY IN THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE

ELECTRIC FIELDS IN THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE

14 Upper-Atmosphere Electric-Field Sources

ELECTRODYNAMIC PROCESSES IN SPACE

SOLAR WIND/MAGNETOSPHERE DYNAMO

IONOSPHERIC WIND DYNAMO

VARIABILITY

EFFECTS OF UPPER-ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC FIELDS AND CURRENTS

SOME OUTSTANDING PROBLEMS

15 The Global Atmospheric-Electrical Circuit

THUNDERSTORMS AS GENERATORS IN THE GLOBAL CIRCUIT

SOME PROPERTIES OF THE GLOBAL CIRCUIT

Global Thunderstorms

Current Above Thunderstorms

Electrical Conductivity, Columnar Resistance, and Global Resistance

Fair-Weather Vertical Current Density and Total Current

Ionosphere Potential

Electric Fields

Electrical Relaxation Time

MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY

Model Improvements

Regional Modeling

ELECTRICAL COUPLING BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER ATMOSPHERE

16 Telluric Currents: The Natural Environment and Interactions with Man-Made Systems

THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

The Physical Problem: Hydrology, Geology, Geothermics, and Tectonics

Shallow Telluric Currents

Deep Telluric Currents

INTERACTIONS OF TELLURIC CURRENTS WITH MAN-MADE SYSTEMS

Communication Cables

Powerlines

Pipelines

Railways

Corrosion

APPLICATIONS OF TELLURIC CURRENT MEASUREMENTS

Detection of Electromagnetic Signals from Space

Prospecting of Underground Structures

Deep-Earth Studies

Tidal Phenomena and Water Flows

Earth's Astronomical Motion

Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Geodynamics

Communications

Biological Effects

APPENDIX: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT.

Appendix References

INDEX.

Notes:

Based on papers presented at an American Geophysical Union symposium in June 1983, Baltimore, Md.

Includes bibliographies and index.

ISBN:

9786610221776

9781280221774

1280221771

9780309557665

0309557666

9780585223926

0585223920

OCLC:

726823109