The Electrical State of the Atmosphere and its Effects on Cloud Microphysics

Abstract

The subject of cloud electricity is quite massive and complex in its own right, and has in addition many controversial aspects. Consequently, we shall make no attempt here to provide a comprehensive treatment of the entire subject; rather, we shall restrict ourselves primarily to summaries of some observed electrical properties of clouds and the particles contained within them, and to a consideration of the effects these electrical properties have on various microphysical processes. To a lesser extent we shall also consider concurrently the question of how the various types of clouds and cloud particles acquire their characteristic states of electrification. The topics of lightning, current budgets, and measurement techniques are omitted altogether.