Measurements of corona ion induced atmospheric electricity modification near to HV power lines

Abstract

Corona ions emitted from high voltage power lines and propagated by the wind can attach at a given rate to atmospheric aerosols and will create disturbances in the Earth's DC electric field. Local electric field variations have been measured using field meters upwind and downwind of power lines and a fixed site monitoring station has been built to enable space charge near a power line to be continuously recorded. At similar sites, the high resolution mobility spectra of atmospheric ions and charged small aerosols have been ascertained using two custom-built mobility spectrometers. These measurement techniques have indicated an increase in the charge state of small aerosols at ground level and an increase in space charge with high variability downwind of high voltage power lines.