Abstract
FROM a paragraph in the “Notes” in NATURE of March 1 (vol. lxi. p. 422), it will be seen that the theory advanced by Mr. C. T. R. Wilson, of the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, and recently supported by Elster and Geitel, of the origin of atmospheric electricity is gradually crystallising and becoming accepted, as might be expected when supported by such authorities. This theory is founded on the very beautiful and interesting experiments of these investigators, which show that there are ions in our atmosphere, and that these ions can form nuclei for the condensation of water vapour; and, further, that the negative ions become centres of condensation with a less degree of super-saturation than the positive ones, and consequently during condensation they will be the first to be carried down by precipitation, the positive ions being left in the atmosphere.
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AITKEN, J. Atmospheric Electricity. Nature 61, 514–515 (1900). https://doi.org/10.1038/061514c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/061514c0
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