Electrical Breakdown Caused by Dust Motion in Low-Pressure Atmospheres: Considerations for Mars

Electrification of agitated dust can cause visible breakdown in a carbon dioxide atmosphere at low pressure in a laboratory experiment. Dust storms on earth become electrified, with accompanying breakdown phenomena. Martian dust storms may reduce the atmospheric conductivity by capturing fast ions o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1973-06, Vol.180 (4089), p.962-963
Main Authors: Eden, H. Frank, Vonnegut, Bernard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dust storms
Electrical faults
Electrification
Embryos
Germ cells
Heat flux
Mars
Meteorology
Oceans
Precipitation
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Summary:Electrification of agitated dust can cause visible breakdown in a carbon dioxide atmosphere at low pressure in a laboratory experiment. Dust storms on earth become electrified, with accompanying breakdown phenomena. Martian dust storms may reduce the atmospheric conductivity by capturing fast ions on particles, and, by electrifying, may cause discharges in the relatively low pressure atmosphere.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.180.4089.962