Atmospheric electricity: peculiarity of occurrence, types of manifestations, protection from danger

The complex of motion and interaction of energy charges in the earth's shell, studied by a special section of physics, is called atmospheric electricity. The field around charged particles and bodies is investigated, which appears when the magnetic induction changes, the process of ion formation, the ability to generate current and conduct it. The possibility of particles to participate in electromagnetic interaction and to produce radiation is being studied.

Electrical effects in the atmosphere

All manifestations are interconnected, their difference is due to local meteorological conditions. The area of ​​the studied concept includes the processes occurring in the stratosphere (layers at an altitude of 12-52 km) and the troposphere (above-ground air with a height of 8 to 18 km).

The effect of electricity at the birth of lightning has been proven, and this also explains the appearance of charges, auroras with different polarities of thunderclouds. Conducting atmospheric layers at an altitude of 55-100 km have been discovered as a result of research and are being studied directly in the process of the development of astronautics.

The nature of the electrification of clouds in a thunderstorm is investigated in order to subordinate the process, use it for human activity, and purposefully control it. Recognition of the role of energy forces in the formation of clouds reduces the danger of electrification of aircraft and brings closer to the disclosure of the secret of ball lightning.

Physical nature

The energy reserve on the shell of water microparticles lasts for a long time, gradually heavy grains form the lower layer of the cloud, the rest are concentrated in the upper part. Integrity is maintained due to the property of different poles to be attracted to one another. When the drops crystallize, turning them into hail breasts or snowflakes, heat is released. The wind hits the particles against each other, the charge index changes, and an additional proton current arises.

From this it can be seen that the organized current of electrons in static conditions and in the atmospheric region has the same nature of occurrence, although the scales of the phenomenon and the poles of movable particles are different. Snow falling to the ground is electrified from impact on the surface and objects. This is manifested in the fact that during strong snowstorms in conditions of critically low temperatures (in the North), flashes of violet color slip through the clouds of snow and the glow of sharp objects is encountered. The same phenomena, similar in nature, are seen during sand and dust storms of enormous strength.

The charges in the clouds are distributed over a complex system. Sometimes a cloud has different charges in two parts or is electrified positively or negatively. As a result, large areas of the atmosphere, reaching up to several kilometers, have the same ability to conduct energy. The potential of a thundercloud is measured in tens of millions of volts, sometimes up to a billion.

Lightning phenomenon

In a thunderstorm, a spark energy discharge arises in the ozone shell, which declares itself with a flash of blinding light and the subsequent sound effect. The places where lightning are formed are:

• rain cumulus clouds;
• layered rain clouds;
• areas of volcanic activity;
• areas where tornadoes appear;
• regions of dust storms.

A widespread type of linear lightning related to impulse or high-frequency discharges in the absence of electrodes in the working area. This is how they differ from a spark discharge in gases between contact conductors with ions. Lightning properties:

• spark length more than several hundred meters;
• the discharge appears in energy fields weaker than those involved in interelectrode processes;
• charges from billions of isolated particles (within a few kilometers) are collected in thousandths of a second;
• in lightning, electricity turns into light, heat and sound, they arise to relax a powerful charge;
• the zipper sleeve is 1 cm in diameter;
• the directed current of electrons in it is from 10 to 100 kA, the temperature inside is about 25 thousand. degrees C, while the transit time takes seconds.

Division of digits

The phenomena that occur in thunderclouds are distinguished in the form of lightning inside the cloud and those that strike the surface of the earth. For their appearance, the presence of an electromagnetic field in a small cloud with a certain value of the internal force under the influence of various factors (1 MV / m) is necessary. In the general surrounding area, the voltage should have an average value supporting the initiation of the discharge (0.1–0.2 MV / m).

Smooth discharges refer to the initial form of lightning in the troposphere; they often form an unbranched, even trunk. This phenomenon is visualized with a cellular nature of a thunderstorm, unstable air parameters, during a tornado. A single impulse with a positive charge is often manifested.

Cloud-to-ground lightnings are leading in length (up to 150 km), the frequency of their occurrence increases with approaching the equator. The phenomenon is accompanied by a change in electromagnetic spaces around particles and radio waves. The danger of hitting an object located on the ground increases with its height. The frequency of impacts is affected by the ability of the soil at a depth under the object or on the surface around it to conduct charges.

If there is a field in the cloud that can support lightning, but there is not enough power for its appearance, then a tall conductive object or plane will initiate a discharge. The determining factor is the electrification of the metal body. More often, lightning between heaven and earth is provoked in rain and cumulus clouds.

Bursts in the upper layers

Special discharges arise in the high-altitude layers of the air surrounding the earth. Instant flashes are characterized by unexpected shapes or blurred layers. They are directed to the surface or even further upward, which is visible visually. There are types of lightning:

• huge - elves;
• cones - jets;
• little-studied sprites.

Elves are seen as large (400 km) light phenomena in the form of a cone. They spark weakly and appear in the upper area of ​​the thundercloud. The height of the cone reaches 100 km, the duration of visualization ranges from 3 to 5 ms.

The jets are observed in the form of tubes or cones of blue color, their glow is brighter than that of elves, but the height is less (the region of the ionosphere above the ground is 42-70 km). By their duration, they can be seen within 4-6 ms.

The sprites are faintly visible, almost indistinguishable, but they appear with tenacity in every storm. Little is known about the physical nature of the phenomenon; it is visually clear that the direction of the lightning goes up from the cloud. Discharges appear at an altitude of 52-135 km above the soil surface.

Zarnitsy in the sky

Instant sparkling flashes appear on the horizon when thunderstorms pass in distant areas. The sound of thunder is not audible, only the reflection from rain and cumulus clouds (tops) is visually determined. The effect occurs after mid-summer at dusk or at night. In the tropics, lightning is visible not only on the horizon, but also in the sky above the observer's head.

The reasons for the appearance are named as follows:

• Light reflects off rarefied vapor in the atmosphere, which is not visible when viewed from the surface of the earth. Long-range sparks are reflected from the smallest water particles and become visible at a distant distance.
• Sometimes flares occur under clouds that are visible over a long distance. Their contours become the backdrop for the lightning. Reflections of lightning are visible, but thunder cannot be heard due to the considerable distance.
• Dry thunderstorms cannot be categorized as lightning, but they are similar in visualization. When the phenomenon occurs, thunderstorm discharges appear in transparent and indistinguishable clouds, more precisely, in a highly rarefied vapor, while there is no sound accompaniment.

Danger factors

In clouds, particles are present in the form of vapor, liquid or crystals. They enter the atmosphere after evaporation from water bodies. Due to the fact that the total proton flux is directed from large particles to small ones, large droplets are negatively charged, and small ones - with a positive pole.

Lightning is recognized as a dangerous factor of high power. Direct impacts destroy buildings, structures, high rocks, plantings, cause fires and unpredictable explosions, sometimes lead to the death of living beings and people. On the path of lightning in the object, the liquid is instantly converted into steam with high pressure indicators. The damaging action is divided into types:

• primary - as a result of direct destruction of an object or object;
• secondary implies the occurrence of high induction, powerful electric and magnetic fields, or the transfer of high potentials into buildings.

The electrostatic charge of a thunderstorm cloud transfers the opposite current to a target isolated from the soil surface (internal equipment, metal roofs, wires, radio networks). The energy-consuming potential remains after the end of the impact and relaxes on close objects. It ignites combustible materials, acts on explosives and injures people who touch charged objects.

Potential and induction protection

The level of protection of an object depends on the explosion hazard of buildings and is provided by the design of the device. The danger of buildings is carried out in accordance with the norms of the PUE, there are three groups of lightning protection equipment and two types of zones (A and B). For zones A, it is required to intercept 99.6% of lightning, and in territory B, 95% of powerful celestial discharges are prevented.

Electromagnetic induction enters the building after hitting a cable, wire from the outside. Protection is carried out by the discharge of charges into the soil. For this, internal metal equipment is connected to earth with a defined current distribution level.

Bridges are placed between pipelines and other lengthy metal communications in the places of their technological approach. They distribute and provide a uniform flow of the induced current without generating charges to the adjacent circuit. Barriers are provided every 20 m.

The prevention of the drift of potentials with high rates inside the buildings is organized by directing the current into the soil area outside the building. To do this, the input of wires, cables and communications into the room is connected to a protective device or connected to the grounding loop in the design of the distribution installation.

Lightning taps

Lightning rods are constructed to receive current from thunderstorm energy impulses and to organize it to drain it to a safe place on the ground. Separately located vertical rods with cables are installed for protection. The second option is the taps provided at the protected object itself, but isolated from the transfer of electricity to internal networks and metal communications.

The design of a separately located lightning outlet includes the following structural elements:

• base (support) up to 22-25 meters high, the material is wood, metal, concrete or reinforced concrete;
• receiver of powerful pulses of energy made of steel, its cross-section should not be less than 100 mm²;
• down conductor with a cross-sectional area of ​​more than 48 mm²;
• ground loop.

Thus, a belt appears in the form of a volumetric cone, the highest point of which is at the top of a metal vertical rod. The circumference of the base of the cone is located at the ground level; its diameter depends on the height of the lightning catcher.

Another protection option provides for the installation of separately located rod elements that are not isolated from the metal parts of the object. These can be ropes or rods, while the discharge of induced electricity is organized by isolation from contact with humans and explosive objects.

An example is the reception of pulses on a metal roof covering or on a steel grating on it. A prerequisite is the drainage of the energy potential into the ground without contact with household appliances and installations.

It is allowed in the form of down conductors to use metal elements of the frame of the structure or emergency stairs of external evacuation on the walls. In this case, the indicators of impulse resistance are calculated, the limiting values ​​of which are correlated with special standard indicators.