Atmospheric electricity is a venerable topic of geophysical science, dating back to the 1750s when Franklin and Dalibard established the presence of electricity in thunderstorms. Subsequently even fine conditions were observed to be electrified, and a downward vertical atmospheric electric field of magnitude ~100V/m observed near the surface during fair weather conditions. The origin of the “fa...

An evaluation is made of techniques that have been or could be employed to determine the existence and nature of worldwide variations in atmospheric electric phenomena. I n the course of a discussion of surface measurements, data from six sites on the surface of thc earth are presented. The use of airborne vehicles in studies of global phenomena is discussed and results from soundings and trans...

This short report describes some recent results of global electric circuit investigations. The experimental foundation of global electric circuit conception is discussed. The main origins of global electric circuit formation are examined. The electrodynamical properties of fair-weather electricity are characterized with standpoint of universal spectra and aeroelectrical structure availability. ...

Lord Kelvin (William Thomson) made important contributions to the study of atmospheric electricity during a brief but productive period from 1859–1861. By 1859 Kelvin had recognised the need for “incessant recording” of atmospheric electrical parameters, and responded by inventing both the water dropper equaliser for measuring the atmospheric potential gradient (PG), and photographic data loggi...

Biomass can help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by displacing petroleum in the transportation sector, by displacing fossil-based electricity, and by sequestering atmospheric carbon. Which use mitigates the most emissions depends on market and regulatory contexts outside the scope of attributional life cycle assessments. We show that bioelectricity's advantage over liquid biofuels depends...

The solar wind modulates the flux of galactic cosmic rays impinging on Earth inversely with solar activity. Cosmic ray ionisation is the major source of air’s electrical conductivity over the oceans and well above the continents. Differential solar modulation of the cosmic ray energy spectrum modifies the cosmic ray ionisation at different latitudes, varying the total atmospheric columnar condu...