Problems of Hydrone and Water: the Origin of Electricity in Thunderstorms

Abstract

PROF. ARMSTRONG'S friendly criticism (NATURE, October 13, p. 537) of my theory of the origin of electricity in thunderstorms seems to neglect the fact that my explanation of thunderstorms is based entirely upon experimental and observational evidence. If experiments can be said to prove anything, then my work and the work of others has shown conclusively that: (a) if there are ascending currents exceeding 8 metres per second in the atmosphere, there must be a great deal of breaking of rain drops; (b) every time a water drop breaks there is a separation of electricity; (c) the broken water drops retain a positive charge; (d) the air attains a negative charge. On the other hand, observations have shown that there is a considerable excess of positive electricity brought down by rain. These are all tangible facts which any one can test by making the suitable experiments, and I have done nothing more than arrange them into such a form that a reasonable account of the phenomena of thunderstorms results.