Studies of surface aerosols and their effects on atmospheric electric parameters

Abstract

Regular measurements of the dust and nuclei content of the air near the ground at Poona were made during 1967-69 to study the characteristic elements of natural pollution near the ground, its origin and its variation with time, seasons and altitude. The electrical field strength, the positive and negative polar conductivities of the air and the number of positively and negatively charged small ions in the atmosphere near the ground were also measured at the same time. These measurements were repeated at two mountain stations during February, March, and June 1969. The dust content and the electric field show seasonal and diurnal variations opposite to those of the small ion density and electrical conductivity. Thus while the electric field is a maximum in winter, the conductivity and small ion content is a maximum during the monsoon months and the dust content a maximum in the premonsoon summer months. A marked increase in the electric field and the dust and condensation nuclei content is observed since similar measurements were last made in 1935-37 at Poona, with a corresponding decrease in small ion count and conductivity. These large variations are associated with the increased industrialization and urbanization of the regions round Poona during the last thirty years.