Elsevier

Journal of Electrostatics

Volume 107, September 2020, 103489
Journal of Electrostatics

Fair weather electric field meter for atmospheric science platforms

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elstat.2020.103489Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • Miniaturised instrument for atmospheric electrostatics.

  • Intended for weather balloon and robotic aircraft use.

  • Includes self-calibration modes for improved accuracy.

  • Inexpensive, and fabricated from machine-cut items.

  • Addresses the need for climate-relevant measurements.

Abstract

A miniature field meter is described for measuring fair weather electric fields (of magnitude ~100 Vm-1). It is a brushless field mill constructed from machine-cut parts, driven by a computer fan motor. It resolves fair weather fields at ~1 mV per (Vm−1), with a time response of 0.65 s. It implements self-calibration through combining a mechanical shutter with a programmable bipolar calibration electrode. It has a mass of 86 g, dimensions 4 cm × 4 cm x 8 cm and consumes <100 mA at 6 V. This design will facilitate new climate-related measurements using balloons and remotely piloted aircraft.

Keywords

Atmospheric electricity
Field mill
Dust electrification
Ionospheric potential

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