2016/08/08 by H.G. Silva, Silva, H. G., Francis M. Lopes +11
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Atmospheric aerosols and clouds #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #Electromagnetic Fields and Biological Effects #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics (physics.geo-ph) #Lightning and Electromagnetic Phenomena
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1608.02494
openalex publication_date 2016/08/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Atmospheric electric field (AEF) measurements were carried out in three different sites forming a triangular array in Southern Portugal. The campaign was performed during the summer characterized by Saharan dust outbreaks; the 16th-17th July 2014 desert dust event is considered here. Evidence of long-range dust electrification is attributed to the air-Earth electrical current creating a positive space-charge inside of the dust layer. An increase of ~23 V/m is observed in AEF on the day of the dust event corresponding to space-charges of ~20-2 pCm-3 (charge layer thicknesses ~10-100 m). A reduction of AEF is observed after the dust event.