Point discharge current measurements beneath dust devils

Lorenz, R. D., Neakrase, L. D. V., Anderson, J. P., Harrison, R. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0693-347X and Nicoll, K. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5580-6325 (2016) Point discharge current measurements beneath dust devils. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 150-151. pp. 55-60. ISSN 1364-6826 doi: 10.1016/j.jastp.2016.10.017

Abstract/Summary

We document for the first time observations of point discharge currents under dust devils using a novel compact sensor deployed in summer 2016 at the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range in New Mexico, USA. A consistent signature is noted in about a dozen events seen over 40 days, with a positive current ramping up towards closest approach, switching to a decaying negative current as the devil recedes. The currents, induced on a small wire about 10 cm above the ground, correlate with dust devil intensity (pressure drop) and dust loading, and reached several hundred picoAmps.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/67963
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.jastp.2016.10.017
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	Elsevier
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