NOTES ON THE PROGRAM FOR FUTURE ATMOSPHERIC -ELECTRIC MEASUREMENTS AT SEA 



Atmospheric-electric elements to be observed.- - 

 (1) Pressure or "potential;" (2) conductivity; (3) num- 

 ber of small ions; (4) number of large ions; (5) pene- 

 trating radiation; (6) space charge; (7) diminution con- 

 stant for small ions; (8) radioactive content of sea air; 

 (9) radioactive content of sea water; and (10) "nuclei" 

 count. 



For items (1) to (6) recording instruments would be 

 desirable, whereas eye readings would be made for the 

 remaining items. For the experiments and tests which 

 would precede the selection of the final design for some 

 of the apparatus, and for the construction of all the ap- 

 paratus, a period of from two to three years would be 

 required. The experimental period would require the 

 greater part of the time of three or four members of 

 the Department's atmospheric-electric staff and there 

 would be required a very considerable part of the time 

 of the staff of the instrument shop for the construction 

 of the apparatus. 



Location and size of laboratory. --Excepting in the 

 case of items (1) and (10) above, the apparatus would be 

 permanently mounted in the laboratory on board. Suita- 

 ble openings would have to be provided, some overhead 

 through the ceiling and some through the sides of the 

 laboratory, to permit mounting the air-flow tubes which 

 would convey the outer air into the measuring apparatus. 

 To accommodate the apparatus, with all the accessories, 

 and also provide deck space for the observers, a labora- 

 tory fifteen feet square would be the minimum require- 

 ment. Althoughone large laboratory would be preferable, 

 two adjacent, communicating rooms could be used. 



The location of the laboratory should be selected so 

 as to avoid the region of atmospheric pollution on the 

 ship, in case the ship is to be operated by a power plant 

 rather than by sails. The site therefore would lie well 

 forward and, in order to provide the necessary unob- 

 structed area overhead through which the air-flow tubes 

 would rise, would have to be one of the highest parts of 

 the ship's superstructure. 



The potential gradient apparatus on a steam or on a 

 motor vessel probably would have to be mounted forward 

 and well away from any of the ship's superstructure or 

 gear that would create an abnormally low field. 



Personnel.- - For the program indicated above, a 

 staff of three scientists, all familiar with atmospheric- 

 electric observations, would be the minimum require- 

 ment if no clerical aid were to be furnished. If two 

 clerks could be provided to do the scalings, computations, 

 and tabulations, however, two observers could operate 

 instruments and carry out observations. Thus, accom- 

 modations would have to be provided in the quarters of 

 the scientific staff for at least three and probably four 

 men who would do the atmospheric-electric work. 



Although the above program might seem to be very 

 ambitious and to require too large a personnel, it should 

 be remembered that, to secure the material from a com- 

 plete program, such as has been outlined, for a period of 

 perhaps one year, would be infinitely more valuable 

 than to obtain the more limited observations which one 

 man could carry out over a period of several years. 



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