Measurement of small variations of atmospheric electrical field signals in fair weather

Abstract

The variations in atmospheric electrical field signals in fair weather were observed both at Aobayama in Sendai and at Tsukidate in the Miyagi Prefecture. The measurements were made using a slow antenna type electrical field meter composed of a metal plate electrode and a CR integrator. They were recorded using a portable pen-recorder. A field meter of this type is suitable for measuring relatively rapid variations. The observations were made in a period of a few minutes in fair breezy weather. The data collected using a bare metal electrode were compared with those using an insulated electrode in order to detect an air-earth current. Examination of the dependence of the amplitude of the variation to the electrode size and height showed that the atmospheric electrical field is affected by these parameters. Observation of signals at two different positions gave the time delay between positions. This indicated that the electrical field perturbation was about several hundred meters. The well known atmospheric circulation with a period of a few minutes suggests that the observed variations in the electrical field signals were caused by electrical charges moving together with the atmospheric circulation. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 125(4): 34–42, 1998