Phys.org May 6, 2021
Artificial charge release is an unexplored potential geoengineering technique for modifying fogs, clouds, and rainfall. To evaluate the effectiveness of the method an international team of researchers (UK, Finland) developed a small charge-delivering remotely piloted aircraft. It carried controllable bipolar charge emitters (nominal emission current ±5 ÎĽA) beneath each wing, with optical cloud and meteorological sensors integrated into the airframe. Meteorological and droplet measurements were demonstrated to 2 km altitude by comparison with a radiosonde, including within cloud, and successful charge emission aloft verified by using programmed flight paths above an upward-facing surface electric field mill. The approach is readily scalable to provide nonpolluting fleets of charge-releasing aircraft, identifying and targeting droplet regions with their own sensors. Beyond geoengineering, agricultural, and biological aerosol applications, safe ionic propulsion of future electric aircraft also requires detailed investigation of charge effects on natural atmospheric droplet systems…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Conceptual picture of charge emission, droplet charging, and droplet growth in a cloud … Credit: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vol 38, Issue 1, p. 63 -75, 07 Jan 2021Â