Report on the atmospheric electricity observations made on the magnetic survey yacht “Galilee,” 1907–08

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Abstract
In addition to the magnetic work on board the “Galilee,” an attempt was made during her final cruise (Sitka, Honolulu, Marshall Islands, Christchurch, Callao, and San Francisco), 1907–08, to secure some observations at sea of the electrical condition of the atmosphere. These were intended to include potential gradient, conductivity, and the radioactive deposit on a charged wire.The first, the determination of the potential gradient, after careful consideration of the conditions on board a sailing vessel, seemed quite impracticable, and no serious attempt was made to secure observations. The rolling of the ship, the flapping of the sails, and the varying positions of the yards and boom under various sailing conditions, all contributed to make the problem of reducing observations of potential gradient to a uniform basis too complicated to be undertaken. On board a steamer the conditions would be less variable and it might be possible to reduce readings to values for undisturbed sea by means of simultaneous observations in port with the vessel at anchor and the second collector and electroscope mounted on a raft at some distance from the vessel.

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