The atmospheric electric fog effect

Abstract

Atmospheric electric parameters show significant variations in a period of hours before the formation of fog becomes visible. The same is true for the dissipation of fog. Apparently the recording of the electric parameters yields a sensitive measure for condensation and evaporation processes in nature. In addition, the electric variations indicate the existence of processes in the transition time between clear weather and fog that are not yet understood. Thus an investigation of this atmospheric electric fog effect promises to increase our knowledge of the formation and dissipation of natural fogs. Of course, it also indicates a method for short‐range forecasting of these events. This review describes the discovery of the effect and the present experimental knowledge. Some attempted explanations are discussed, and are found to be insufficient. The fundamental possibilities for the explanation are treated in some detail, and material for further investigations is provided.