Electrical potential measurements in the lower atmosphere

Abstract

Lower-atmospheric potential measurements obtained in 1983 through 1985 using the Hy-wire technique are summarized in this paper. Observed values of the potential were in the range of 50-100 kV in Fairbanks, AK, compared with 100-200 kV at Wallops Island, VA. When one-hour averages are formed from the entire data set the result is a unitary variation very reminiscent of both the Carnegie curve and more recent stratospheric electric field data. A comparison with an aircraft potential measurement in the same vicinity during April 1983 demonstrates that the two techniques yield roughly similar results, except that the Hy-wire measurements were 20-30 percent lower in absolute value.