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Related Concept Videos

Buoyancy01:12

Buoyancy

When an object is placed in a fluid, it either floats or sinks. All objects in a fluid experience a buoyant force. For example, a metal ball sinks, while a rubber ball floats. Similarly, a submarine can sink and float by adjusting its buoyancy.  The concept of buoyancy raises several interesting questions. For instance, where does this buoyant force come from? How much buoyant force is required to make an object sink or float? Do objects that sink get any support at all from the fluid? 
To get...
Charge on a Conductor01:26

Charge on a Conductor

An interesting property of a conductor in static equilibrium is that extra charges on the conductor end up on its outer surface, regardless of where they originate. Consider a hollow metallic conductor with a uniform surface charge density. Since the conductor itself is in electrostatic equilibrium, there should not be any electric field inside the conductor. Now, assume a Gaussian surface enclosing the hollow portion. Applying Gauss's law, the inner surface of the hollow conductor will not...
Charging Conductors By Induction01:15

Charging Conductors By Induction

The Earth is a good conductor of electricity, and it is so big that it can be considered an infinite source or sink of charges. It can easily exchange charges with any matter.
Generally, conductors like metals do not allow any excess charge to be present on them. Any excess charge added to metals easily flows away, for example, when a metal is placed on the Earth. This process is called earthing.
However, conductors can be charged by a process called induction. For example, consider charging a...
Charge and Current01:14

Charge and Current

Electric charge is the most fundamental quantity in an electric circuit. The effects of electric charge are encountered daily, such as when a wool sweater sticks to the human body or when a person receives a shock while walking on a carpet.
Charge is an inherent property of the atomic particles that make up matter and is measured in units called coulombs (C). Matter is composed of atoms, each consisting of electrons, protons, and neutrons. Electrons have a negative charge (-e), while protons...
Measurement of Fluid Pressure01:16

Measurement of Fluid Pressure

Fluid pressure is commonly measured using devices called manometers, which rely on liquid columns to indicate pressure differences. The height of a liquid column in a manometer reflects the pressure exerted by the fluid, providing a simple yet effective means of measurement. Different types of manometers serve specific purposes based on their configurations and the type of fluids involved.
A basic form of manometer is the piezometer, a vertical tube open at the top and filled with the same...
Galvanometer01:24

Galvanometer

Common devices, including car instrument panels, battery chargers, and inexpensive electrical instruments, measure potential difference (voltage), current, or resistance using a d'Arsonval galvanometer. This electromechanical instrument is also known as a moving coil galvanometer.
The galvanometer consists of  two concave-shaped permanent magnets, providing a uniform radial magnetic field in the annular region. In the center, a pivoted coil of fine copper wire is placed in the uniform magnetic...

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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Balloon Tag Manufacturing Technique for Sensor Fish and Live Fish Recovery
07:41

Balloon Tag Manufacturing Technique for Sensor Fish and Live Fish Recovery

Published on: October 13, 2023

A lightweight balloon-carried cloud charge sensor.

K A Nicoll1, R G Harrison

  • 1Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, P.O. Box 243, Earley Gate, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6BB, United Kingdom. k.a.nicoll@reading.ac.uk

The Review of Scientific Instruments
|February 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New balloon-borne sensors measure droplet charges in non-thunderstorm clouds. This research provides crucial data on cloud microphysics and atmospheric electricity, advancing climate system understanding.

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Area of Science:

  • Atmospheric Science
  • Cloud Physics
  • Climate Science

Background:

  • Microphysical cloud processes significantly impact the climate system.
  • Measurements of droplet charges in non-thunderstorm clouds are limited.
  • Understanding cloud electrification is crucial for climate modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and validate a novel balloon-borne charge sensor for meteorological applications.
  • To measure droplet charges in various atmospheric conditions, including non-thunderstorm clouds.
  • To assess the sensor's capability for detecting charge densities at cloud edges.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a charge sensor deployable on meteorological balloons.
  • In-situ testing of the sensor across a wide temperature range (-60 to 20 degrees C).
  • Validation of sensor performance in both cloudy and clear air conditions.

Main Results:

  • The sensor demonstrated a rapid time response (greater than 10 V s(-1)).
  • The instrument accurately determined charge densities ranging from 100 fC m(-3) to 1 nC m(-3).
  • The sensor's sensitivity is sufficient for detecting charge at weakly charged cloud boundaries.

Conclusions:

  • The developed balloon-borne charge sensor is a viable tool for under-explored cloud microphysics research.
  • New data on droplet charges in non-thunderstorm clouds can now be obtained.
  • This technology aids in characterizing cloud electrification and improving climate models.