Some recent changes in atmospheric electricity and their cause

✍ Scribed by K. H. Stewart

• Book ID: 104573068
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1960
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 554 KB
• Volume: 86
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0035-9009
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.49708636912

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Annual mean values of atmospheric electrical potential gradient are tabulated for three British and two Portuguese stations and it is shown that unusual changes have occurred since 1952. These changes could be explained by an increased conductivity of the air near the ground. Measurements of β‐ray ionization made at the British stations indicate that the increase in conductivity has been produced by a surface deposit of radioactive material attributable to nuclear‐test explosions.