Positive Space Charge from the Sea

Abstract

Potential gradient and space charge measurements have been made along the shore on the island of Hawaii. Both of these atmospheric electric parameters were positive and considerably higher and more variable when the air came from over the sea as opposed to air that came from over the land. The nature of the fluctuations in the space charge and potential gradient suggests that some of the positive space charge found in the sea air originated from the sea in the surf zone a few meters upwind of the measuring site. It is suggested that intensive bubbling in the surf along the shore resulted in the ejection of positively charged droplets of sea water into the atmosphere. The flux of charge from the surface of the water was calculated to he about 3 ? 104 elementary charges per square centimeter per second. It is felt that a similar charge flux would be produced by bubbling processes associated with whitecaps on the open sea. The various factors that may modify the oceanic charge production are discussed.