Experimental determination of layer cloud edge charging from cosmic ray ionisation

Nicoll, K. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5580-6325 and Harrison, R. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0693-347X (2010) Experimental determination of layer cloud edge charging from cosmic ray ionisation. Geophysical Research Letters, 37 (13). L13802. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: 10.1029/2010GL043605

Abstract/Summary

The cloud-air transition zone at stratiform cloud edges is an electrically active region where droplet charging has been predicted. Cloud edge droplet charging is expected from vertical flow of cosmic ray generated atmospheric ions in the global electric circuit. Experimental confirmation of stratiform cloud edge electrification is presented here, through charge and droplet measurements made within an extensive layer of supercooled stratiform cloud, using a specially designed electrostatic sensor. Negative space charge up to 35 pC m−3 was found in a thin (<100 m) layer at the lower cloud boundary associated with the clear air-cloud conductivity gradient, agreeing closely with space charge predicted from the measured droplet concentration using ion-aerosol theory. Such charge levels carried by droplets are sufficient to influence collision processes between cloud droplets.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/16408
Identification Number/DOI	10.1029/2010GL043605
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	American Geophysical Union
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