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The Earth's Electrical Environment (1986) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 91-93

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 91...
... The interior of the storm contains a dipolar charge distribution consisting of positive charge in the upper part of the cloud and negative charge below the positive. These are the dominant accumulations of charge in the storm and are called the "upper positive" and "main .~ s_ : _ .
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From page 92...
... Positive charge is also found beneath and inside the base of the cloud below the main negative charge; this is called the "lower positive charge." Two sources for the lower positive charge are the corona from the ground, which may be carried upward into the cloud by the updraft, and positive ions generated by cosmic rays below and around the cloud base, which are attracted to the cloud by the main negative charge. Additional lower positive charge is carried by descending precipitation and occurs in localized regions known as "lower positive charge centers" (LPCCs)
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From page 93...
... 7 ~ of the storm. During this time lightning discharges suddenly decrease the electric field while the charging process steadily increases the field.
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Key Terms

  • electric field
  • cloud base
  • negative charge
  • cloud particles
  • charging process

  • main negative
  • storm charges
  • intracloud lightning
  • ionospheric potential
  • charging mechanisms

  • positive charge
  • electrical structure
  • upper positive
  • charge centers
  • initial electrification

  • positive ions
  • charged precipitation
  • cosmic rays


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