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From: connolly@steinmetz.UUCP (C. Ian Connolly)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Re: lightening bursts
Message-ID: <218@steinmetz.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 31-Jul-85 21:38:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: steinmet.218
Posted: Wed Jul 31 21:38:58 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Aug-85 00:44:36 EDT
References: <3305@decwrl.UUCP> <251@unccvax.UUCP>
Organization: GE CRD, Schenectady, NY
Lines: 20

>      Apparently, lightning isn't the only kind of current that flows 
> from the cloud - to - ground (or whatever).  I've noticed that when
> a thunderstorm is threatening, even in the absence of lightning, larger
> broadcasting towers (in excess of 350 feet) will put on some spectacular
> feats of arcing and popping around the 'johnnyballs', strain relief 
> insulators, and the base insulator.  The tower I've in mind rarely, if
> ever, actually gets hit.  Is the tower actually reducing the potential
> for strikes, or what?

Usually the atmosphere has a small potential - I forget the actual voltage
per foot, but during thunderstorms, this potential can increase drastically.
I believe a major part of Ben Franklin's famous experiment was merely in
displaying this potential, i.e., a conductor stretched up a hundred or so
feet into the atmosphere will give you quite a charge - even without
lightning.  I don't *think* it would inhibit lightning strikes, but I'm not
sure.
-- 
C. Ian Connolly, WA2IFI - USENET: ...edison!steinmetz!connolly
	   ,      ,	  ARPANET: connolly@ge-crd
An rud a bhionn, bionn.