Figure 1- Altitude as a function of conductivity. Most of
the potential drop of the atmosphere occurs near the
surface. Adapted from Reference 2.
Figure 2 – There is a quasi-sinusoidal behavior
of the electrical field with respect to time as
shown above. Adapted from Reference 2.
30
25
20
5000 fS
800 fS
15
400fS
10
100 fS
25 fS
5
0
0
5
10
15
20
Equation 3 – Conductivity vs. exponential fit
time constant
Equation 4 – Capacitor current vs. combined
Gerdien and measurement capacitance and
change in outer-inner cylinder voltage
Equation - Gerdien capacitor current
given V (outer voltage- inner voltage),
L (length), a (conductivity), b(inner
radius), and a (outer radius)
Equation 5 – Conductivity
Equation - Critical mobility - the
minimum ion mobility (drift
velocity/electric field) that will be
captured by the gerdien capacitor
Equation 6 – Theoretical cylindrical capacitor
capacitance
Table 1 – Staffing Plan
Category:
Analysis
Calibrations
Data Processing
Documentation
Electronics
Flight Software
Integration
Mechanical
Project Management
Science Requirements
System Testing
Team Member:
Joseph Tran
Joseph Tran
Seth Burleigh
Katherine Blackburn
Seth Burleigh
Joseph Tran
Seth Burleigh
Seth Burleigh
Katherine Blackburn
Katherine Blackburn
Joseph Tran
1.
K. Nagaraja, B.S.N. Prasad, N. Srinivas, M.S. Madhava, Electrical conductivity near
the Earth's surface: Ion-aerosol model, Journal of Atmospheric and SolarTerrestrial Physics, Volume 68, Issue 7, April 2006, Pages 757-768,
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/ B6VHB-4JDMR5M1/2/607a27d56c6adbf8ce265ea1ad0d8e0a)
2.
E.A. Bering, A.A. Few, J.R. Benbrook, The Global electric circuit, Journal of Physics
Today,Volume 51, Issue 10, 1998, Pages 24-30
3.
N. Ragini, T.S. Shashikumar, M.S. Chandrashekara, J. Sannappa, L. Paramesh,
Temporal and vertical variations of atmospheric electrical conductivity related to
radon and its progeny concentrations at Mysore, Indian Journal of Radio & Space
Physics, Volume 37, August 2008, Pages 264-271
4.
K.L. Aplin, A novel technique to determine atmospheric ion mobility spectra,
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, January 2005,
(arXiv:physics/0501129v1)
5.
K.L. Aplin, Instrumentation for atmospheric ion measurements, University of
Reading Department of Meteorology, August 2000, Pages 1-274
6.
J.P. Scott and W.H. Evans, The electrical conductivity of clouds, Journal of Pure and
Applied Geophysics, Volume 75, Issue 1, December 1969, Pages 219-232
(http://www.springerlink.com/content/x804k7123mqhn3r5/)
7.
R.G. Harrison, A.J. Bennett, Cosmic ray and air conductivity profiles retrieved from
early twentieth century balloon soundings of the lower troposphere, Journal of
Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Volume 69, November 2006, Pages 515527
8.
K.A. Nicholl, R.G. Harrison, A double gerdien instrument for simultaneous bipolar
air conductivity measurements on balloon platforms, Journal of Review of
Scientific Instruments, Volume 79, August 2008
9.
K.L. Aplin, R.G. Harrison, A computer-controlled gerdien atmospheric ion counter,
Journal of Review of Scientific Instruments, Volume 71, Issue 8, August 2000
10. B. Balsey, (2009). Aerosol size distribution . Retrieved from
http://cires.colorado.edu/science/groups/balsley/research/aerosol-distn.html