Wiktor Wise
The phrase the air is electric is used to describe an atmosphere that feels highly charged with energy or excitement. In a literal sense, electricity in the air refers to atmospheric electricity, which involves the movement of electrical charges in the Earth's atmosphere. This can be caused by thunderstorms, which act as a giant battery, charging the electrosphere to about 400,000 volts. The Earth and its atmosphere are constantly bombarded by radiation from outer space, which interacts with atoms in the atmosphere to create an air shower of secondary ionizing radiation, including X-rays, muons, and electrons. This ionization ensures that a small current flows through the atmosphere, even in the absence of thunderstorms. While some people claim to be able to feel or hear this electricity in the air, it is not typically detectable by the human senses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Atmospheric electricity describes the electrical charges in the Earth's atmosphere |
| Cause | Thunderstorms, cosmic rays, natural radioactivity, solar radiation |
| Effect | Lightning, small currents, dangerous charge buildup |
| Current Density | 10 micromicroamperes per square meter |
| Voltage | 400,000 volts |
| Conductivity | Weakly conductive, increases with altitude |
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What You'll Learn
Thunderstorms and lightning
Thunderstorms act like giant batteries in the atmosphere, charging the electrosphere to about 400,000 volts. This creates an electric field that decreases with altitude. The movement of charges between the Earth's surface, the atmosphere, and the ionosphere is called the global atmospheric electrical circuit.
Lightning is a crucial aspect of thunderstorms. It is a strong jolt of electricity that creates glowing gas particles called plasma, illuminating the night sky. Lightning is a discharge of electricity, heating the air around it to an extremely high temperature of 30,000°C (54,000°F). This rapid heating causes the air to expand explosively, resulting in a shock wave that becomes a booming sound wave known as thunder.
Cloud-to-cloud lightning is the most frequent type, occurring within or between neighbouring clouds. It poses a significant danger to aircraft, leading to flight route adjustments to avoid thunderstorms. Another type of lightning is ball lightning, a rare phenomenon where a floating sphere of lightning, usually between 1 cm and 1 meter in size, appears in various colours like white, blue, or yellow-orange.
The process of lightning formation involves the interaction between storm clouds and the ground. The bottom of a storm cloud accumulates a negative charge, attracting the positive charge of the ground. When the negative charge becomes sufficiently large, it releases a stepped leader, a flow of negative charge rushing toward the Earth. Positive charges from the ground are drawn to the stepped leader, resulting in an upward flow of positive charge. When these charges meet, a strong electric current, known as the return stroke, carries the positive charge back into the cloud. This bright flash of a lightning bolt is accompanied by the sound of thunder, with the light from the lightning reaching our eyes first due to the faster speed of light compared to sound.
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Cosmic rays and natural radioactivity
The air we breathe is never quite neutral, and this is due to the constant bombardment of radiation from outer space. This radiation consists of positively charged ions, from protons to iron and larger nuclei, derived from sources outside the Solar System. When these ions interact with atoms in Earth's atmosphere, they create an air shower of secondary ionizing radiation, including X-rays, muons, protons, alpha particles, pions, and electrons.
Cosmic rays are high-energy particles or clusters of particles (primarily represented by protons or atomic nuclei) that move through space at nearly the speed of light. They originate from the Sun, from outside our Solar System, and even distant galaxies. When they strike the Earth's atmosphere, they produce showers of secondary particles, some of which reach the surface, while the majority are deflected back into space by the magnetosphere or heliosphere.
Cosmic rays were discovered by Victor Hess in 1912 through balloon experiments, for which he was awarded the 1936 Nobel Prize in Physics. They have been a topic of active research ever since, with scientists investigating their potential impact on electronics and human health.
Galactic cosmic rays pose a significant threat to electronics aboard outgoing probes and spacecraft. For example, in 2010, a malfunction on the Voyager 2 space probe was attributed to a single flipped bit, likely caused by a cosmic ray. Additionally, cosmic rays and natural radioactivity may limit the coherence times of qubits in superconducting quantum computers if not adequately shielded.
Cosmic rays also have implications for human health, particularly for astronauts traveling beyond Low Earth Orbit. Exposure to galactic cosmic rays increases the risk of radiation sickness, cancer, central nervous system effects, and degenerative diseases. These risks are currently a barrier to realizing interplanetary travel plans for crewed spacecraft.
In conclusion, cosmic rays and natural radioactivity play a crucial role in maintaining a weak current flow in the Earth's atmosphere, even in the absence of thunderstorms. Their impact on electronics and human health continues to be an area of active research and concern, especially for space exploration endeavors.
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The global atmospheric electrical circuit
The movement of electrical charges between the Earth's surface, its atmosphere, and the ionosphere is known as the global atmospheric electrical circuit. This interdisciplinary field involves concepts from electrostatics, atmospheric physics, meteorology, and Earth science.
The study of the global atmospheric electrical circuit has made significant advances in the last 50 years, particularly in understanding lightning and thunderstorms. Satellites now provide continuous information on lightning and thunderstorm activity, and we have a better understanding of how the conductivity of the atmosphere is influenced by aerosols.
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The electrification of the atmosphere
Thunderstorms act as a colossal battery, charging the electrosphere to approximately 400,000 volts relative to the Earth's surface. This charge establishes an electric field that spans the atmosphere, with the magnitude of the field near the Earth's surface averaging around 100 V/m, oriented to drive positive charges downward. The electric field's strength diminishes as altitude increases, and at about 50 kilometres above the Earth's surface, it becomes very weak.
The Earth and its inhabitants are constantly subjected to radiation from outer space, primarily composed of positively charged ions. This radiation interacts with atoms in our atmosphere, resulting in a cascade of secondary ionising radiation, including X-rays, muons, protons, and electrons. The ionisation caused by this secondary radiation ensures that the atmosphere is weakly conductive, allowing for a slight current flow that balances the more substantial currents associated with thunderstorms.
The conductivity of the air is influenced by the movement of ions, which increases with altitude due to two primary factors. Firstly, ionisation from cosmic rays becomes more prevalent as altitude rises. Secondly, as air density decreases, ions can travel greater distances before colliding with other particles, resulting in a rapid increase in conductivity. This conductivity gives rise to dark discharge, an electrical current that flows through the air before it reaches the breakdown point, becoming visible as lightning.
Additionally, the understanding of atmospheric electricity has practical applications in the ongoing transition towards electrification, particularly in the heating and cooling of residential and commercial buildings. Electrification involves replacing fossil fuels with electricity to reduce carbon emissions, and technologies like air-source heat pumps are at the forefront of this movement.
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Atmospheric charges and power distribution systems
Atmospheric electricity refers to the electrical charges in the Earth's atmosphere. The movement of charge between the Earth's surface, the atmosphere, and the ionosphere is known as the global atmospheric electrical circuit. The ionosphere is the inner edge of the magnetosphere and is the part of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation. The Earth and its inhabitants are constantly bombarded by radiation from outer space, which consists of positively charged ions from protons to iron and larger nuclei derived from sources outside the Solar System.
The electrosphere layer, which extends from tens of kilometers above the Earth's surface to the ionosphere, has a high electrical conductivity and is at a constant electric potential. The average potential difference between the ionosphere and the Earth's surface is approximately 400,000 volts, resulting in a continual downward flow of current throughout the atmosphere. This current, known as atmospheric electricity, is primarily driven by thunderstorms, which act as a giant battery in the atmosphere, charging the electrosphere to a high voltage relative to the Earth's surface.
Atmospheric charges can have significant implications for power distribution systems, particularly those with suspended electric wires. Bare wires spanning long distances and isolated from the ground can accumulate substantial electrical charges, even in the absence of thunderstorms or lightning. This charge buildup can be dangerous and potentially lethal, as it seeks to discharge through the path of least insulation. To mitigate this risk, power distribution systems employ a protective earth mechanism, where one side of the system is connected to the earth at multiple points, providing a safe path for the charge to dissipate without causing harm.
Additionally, alternating current distribution grids utilize an additional electric grounding wire that carries no power. This wire serves as a high-current short-circuit path, ensuring that damaged equipment is rendered safe by blowing fuses. By grounding one side of each separate grid, charge buildup within the transformers is prevented, avoiding potential damage from charge potentials discharging across the transformer coils.
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Frequently asked questions
It refers to the presence of electrical charges in the Earth's atmosphere. This can be caused by thunderstorms, which act as a giant battery, charging the electrosphere to about 400,000 volts.
It is due to the movement of charge between the Earth's surface, the atmosphere, and the ionosphere, known as the global atmospheric electrical circuit.
Yes, it can be. Atmospheric charges can cause dangerous and potentially lethal charge buildup in suspended electric wire power distribution systems.
Some people claim to be able to feel and hear electricity in the air. However, it is not a common occurrence and could be related to wiring problems or high-voltage DC.
Lightning is a result of the breakdown of air due to large voltage differences. It occurs between clouds or between a cloud and the Earth.
