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Why is the Earth negatively charged? Why does the charge in the atmosphere never neutralize?
On our planet, electrical charges in the atmosphere can be felt almost every day, and under certain conditions, these charges can become one of the most striking phenomena in nature. From lightning during a thunderstorm to static induction on a clear day, it's all part of atmospheric electricity. This article will take a closer look at why the Earth has a negative charge and why the charge of the atmosphere is never completely neutralized.
Atmospheric electricity is a multidisciplinary subject involving concepts from electrostatics, atmospheric physics, meteorology, and earth science.
Charge formation and flow
At the heart of atmospheric electricity are global electrical circuits. When electrical charges in the atmosphere move between the Earth's surface and the ionosphere, this phenomenon creates a voltage difference that makes the Earth's surface negatively charged. It is a common observation that on clear days the surface of the earth remains negatively charged, while the electric field in the air is positive, because electric charges are constantly moving in the atmosphere in the form of weak electric currents. Meanwhile, the electric field has a strength of about 100 volts per meter, driving the positive charges downward.
The effects of thunderstorms
As a giant battery in the atmosphere, a thunderstorm can store much more energy than we imagine. Thunderstorms build up hundreds of thousands of volts of charge through a violent charge separation process, and when lightning releases these charges, they have a significant impact on the electrical properties of the atmosphere. This kind of strong electric field not only provides conditions for the formation of lightning, but also ensures the long-term imbalance and distribution of electric charge in the atmosphere.
The collision between ice particles in thunderstorms and soft hail in the cloud causes the separation of electric charges, which is an important process in generating lightning.
History
Looking back at history, as early as 1708, Dr. William Wall pointed out that the discharge of electric charges was similar to the phenomenon of mini lightning, and Benjamin Franklin's experiments further proved that the electrical phenomena in the atmosphere were similar to those in the laboratory. Further research such as that by Erman and Peltier explored the electrical properties of the Earth from different aspects and gradually established a basic understanding of atmospheric electricity.
Whenever a thunderstorm strikes, the potential difference between the Earth and the ionosphere is intensified, and it is this process that keeps the Earth negatively charged.
Electric current flow and weather influence
Electric currents in the atmosphere connect many natural processes, influencing not only weather phenomena but also playing an important role at the biological level. Electric fields near the ground cause positive charges in the atmosphere to flow toward negatively charged areas of the Earth, leading to interesting ecological interactions. For example, some organisms can use these electric fields for navigation.
Influence from the Universe to the Earth
The Earth is constantly exposed to radiation from space. This radiation originates from positively charged particles in the universe. When they interact with atoms in the atmosphere, they produce ionization, making the atmosphere slightly conductive and facilitating the flow of tiny electric currents. This balance plays an important role in the atmosphere, helping to maintain the Earth's negative electrical properties.
Continued Charge Imbalance
Despite the large amounts of electrical discharge that occur during a storm, the atmospheric system never truly reaches a fully neutral state. As particles and current continue to flow, charge inhomogeneities always exist. This phenomenon remains a continuing mystery both in modern science and in ancient observations.
Even on a clear day, the electric field continues to change, with its intensity varying with weather conditions. This is the essence of atmospheric electricity.
Future Research and Implications
With the development of science and technology, the research on atmospheric electricity will become more and more in-depth, especially how to use the current flow of electric charges to understand weather patterns and their impacts, which may become the next hot research topic. The role of electric fields is often underestimated in many weather phenomena; however, this strong electric field effect is an indispensable factor between ecology and climate.
So, in the face of such a complex dynamic relationship between electric fields and electric charges, how do we understand the electrical properties of the Earth and its possible impact on our lives in the future?
