Short‐period variations in the atmospheric electric potential gradient

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Abstract
Measurements made with 2 field mills, 100 m apart, along the direction of the surface wind, have been used to obtain information about the charges responsible for variations in the potential gradient over periods of the order of minutes. In general these variations are caused by the horizontal motion of wind‐home space charge contained within the first few hundred metres of atmosphere. In fair weather, there are effects probably caused by locomotive steam, and others perhaps to be associated with convection cells. In overcast weather there is evidence for concentrations of negative charge in the base of the thicker portions of the cloud. In showers, the main result is that the pattern of the potential gradient is very much affected by space charges from point discharge.

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