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The electrical conductivity of clouds

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Summary

A modified Gerdien cell was designed, evaluated, and built for measurement of the polar conductivities in clouds. This conductivity dropsonde was attached to a U.S. Weather Bureau, 1680 mHz, radiosonde for telemetry and to measure pressure, temperature, and relative humidity profiles. The combined instruments were ejected from aircraft, and others were released from balloons into the region of interest.

Eight flights were made during the 1967 thunderstorm season. Three of these drops were successful in measuring conductivity inside of electrically active clouds. Two fair-weather profiles were measured for comparison purposes, and three of the drops were faulty.

These very preliminary results tend to indicate considerable electrical conductivity in thunderclouds. The data are too few to support a strong statement in favor of increased conductivity, but the instruments were sufficiently reliable to prove that the conductivity was not reduced, as is normally assumed, in the clouds investigated.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineers, The University of Arizona, 85721, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    W. H. Evans

Authors
  1. J. P. Scott
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  2. W. H. Evans
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Additional information

This research was supported by the Atmospheric Sciences Section, National Science Foundation under Grant GA-701.

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Scott, J.P., Evans, W.H. The electrical conductivity of clouds. PAGEOPH 75, 219–232 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00875057

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00875057

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