The Earth's Electrical Environment

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.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• INTRODUCTION
• Lightning
• Cloud Electrification
• Electrical Structure of the Atmosphere
• The Planetary Boundary Layer
• Mesosphere
• Ionosphere and Magnetosphere
• Techniques for Evaluating the Electrical Processes and Structure
• Societal Impact
• Recommendations
• References
• I LIGHTNING
• Optical Detectors
• Intracloud Versus Cloud-to-Ground Lightning
• Lightning Flash and Related Characteristics
• Lightning Location Networks
• References
• INTRODUCTION
• CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING
• Time-Domain Fields and Lightning Currents
• Locations of Lightning Radio Sources
• Artificial Triggering of Lightning
• References
• RECENT AND ONGOING STUDIES
• PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• References
• Shock-Wave Formation and Expansion
• Comparisons with Numerical Simulations and Experiments
• Tortuosity and the Thunder Signature
• PROPAGATION EFFECTS
• Finite-Amplitude Propagation
• Scattering and Aerosol Effects
• Refraction
• Propagation Effects Evaluation
• Acoustic Reconstruction of Lightning Channels
• ELECTROSTATICALLY PRODUCED ACOUSTIC EMISSIONS
• References
• INTRODUCTION
• Mechanisms of Lightning Damage
• New Results on Lightning Characteristics
• Protection Techniques
• FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTION
• References
• INTRODUCTION
• NO PRODUCTION BY LIGHTNING
• The Global Dissipation Rate, R
• The Global NO Production Rate, (NO)
• OTHER TRACE GASES PRODUCED BY LIGHTNING
• References
• II CLOUD AND THUNDERSTORM ELECTRICITY
• VERTICAL CONVECTION AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
• Conditioning the Air for Overturning
• CONDENSATION AND PRECIPITATION IN RELATION TO AIR MOTION
• STRONG CONVECTION
• HAIL
• TORNADOES
• ACKNOWLEDGMENT
• References
• 8 The Electrical Structure of Thunderstorms
• ELECTRICAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
• THE MAIN NEGATIVE AND UPPER POSITIVE CHARGES: SOME OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE
• DISCUSSION
• PARTICLE-CHARGE OBSERVATIONS
• CHARGE MOTIONS AND CURRENTS
• LIGHTNING AND THE STORM ELECTRIFICATION
• LIGHTNING EVOLUTION
• SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
• References
• INTRODUCTION
• Diffusion Charging
• Drift Charging
• Selective Ion Charging
• Breakup Charging
• Induction Charging
• Induction Charging
• Interface Charging
• Cloud Stage
• Rain Stage
• Hail Stage
• CONCLUSIONS
• References
• INTRODUCTION
• MECHANISMS OF CHARGE SEPARATION
• Inductive Process
• Freezing Potentials
• CHARGING BY ION ATTACHMENT
• Parallel-Plate Models
• One-Dimensional Models
• Two-Dimensional Models
• Three-Dimensional Models
• DISCUSSION
• References
• III GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ELECTRICAL PROCESSES
• INTRODUCTION
• 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
• The Electrode Effect
• Convection Currents in the Planetary Boundary Layer
• Measurement of Global-Scale Phenomena
• Ion Physics and Balance in the Planetary Boundary Layer
• References
• INTRODUCTION
• 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
• CONCLUSION
• References
• INTRODUCTION
• SOURCES OF IONIZATION
• Positive Ions
• Negative Ions
• Model Calculations
• CONDUCTIVITY IN THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE
• ELECTRIC FIELDS IN THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE
• CONCLUSION
• References
• 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
• References
• 15 The Global Atmospheric-Electrical Circuit
• THUNDERSTORMS AS GENERATORS IN THE GLOBAL CIRCUIT
• Global Thunderstorms
• Current Above Thunderstorms
• Electrical Conductivity, Columnar Resistance, and Global...read more...