2013/05/31 by K. L. Aplin, R. G. Harrison · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · #Atmospheric air #Atmospheric electricity #Context (archaeology) #Electricity #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Instrumentation (computer programming) #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Lightning and Electromagnetic Phenomena #Potential gradient #Work (physics) #physics.geo-ph #physics.hist-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.5194/hgss-4-83-2013
published as Hist. Geo Space Sci., 4, 4, 83-95, 2013 · Submitted to History of Geo- and Space Sciences
arxiv created 2013/07/29 · openalex publication_date 2013/09/03 · arxiv updated 2013/09/06 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract. Lord Kelvin (William Thomson) made important contributions to the study of atmospheric electricity during a brief but productive period from 1859–1861. By 1859 Kelvin had recognised the need for "incessant recording" of atmospheric electrical parameters, and responded by inventing both the water dropper equaliser for measuring the atmospheric potential gradient (PG), and photographic data logging. The water dropper equaliser was widely adopted internationally and is still in use today. Following theoretical considerations of electric field distortion by local topography, Kelvin developed a portable electrometer, using it to investigate the PG on the Scottish island of Arran. During these environmental measurements, Kelvin may have unwittingly detected atmospheric PG changes during solar activity in August/September 1859 associated with the "Carrington event", which is interesting in the context of his later statements that solar magnetic influence on the Earth was impossible. Kelvin's atmospheric electricity work presents an early representative study in quantitative environmental physics, through the application of mathematical principles to an environmental problem, the design and construction of bespoke instrumentation for real world measurements and recognising the limitations of the original theoretical view revealed by experimental work.