i#&m 
I 
ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY. 
Whether we receive, as being more generally understood, the thorny of the existence of two distinct 
electricities, or endeavour to explain all electrical phenomena by supposing that they are dependent 
upon an excess, or a diminution in the quantity possessed by any substance, certain it is, that two 
modifications of electricity are produced, or two conditions established, which equally exhibit opposing, 
attractive, and repulsive powers. Thus, if two jars be charged at the same moment, and by the same 
number of revolutions, the one from the positive conductor in the front of a cylinder or plate machine, 
and the other from the negative conductor attached to the rubber, both will be equally charged as to 
power, but the one will attract any light substance which the other repels, and vice versa. Now, as 
our artificial machines, by which certain phenomena are rendered visible, can derive their electricity 
solely from the earth or air, it follows that both the one and the other must be imbued with the ethe- 
real fluid. That being admitted, we now refer to the article " Electricity," as we find it in Morton's 
Cyclopedia of Agriculture. Want of space enforces abbreviation: — "The local disturbances which 
produce thunder storms by no means indicate the amount or intensity of the electricity of the air. 
Recent observations made by Quetelet, of Brussels, have thrown much light on this subject." As a 
general result of many observations taken by means of a peculiar ball electrometer, from 1843 to 1848> 
it was proved that the annual and diurnal alterations of atmospheric quiescent electricity, are very 
remarkable. " Contrary to expectation it attains its maximum in the coldest months, being least in 
the hottest part of the year. The following proportional numbers exhibit the different amounts of 
electricity in the different months of the year.'' A circular diagram is shown in the article, like the 
face of a clock, wherein we find the maximum to be represented by No. 605 for January, 37S February, 
200 March, 141 April, 81 May, 47 June, 49 July, 62 August, 70 September, 131 October, 209 Novem- 
ber, 507 December. Another circular diagram illustrates the electrical changes during the 24 hours of 
the day. Thus, commencing with midnight, the figure shows the total absence of electricity from that 
hour till six in the morning, when 17 degrees are marked. At seven o'clock they rise to 27 ; at eight 
to 36 (maximum) ; thence they decline to 27, 20, 14, and to 12 at the horn- of noon. At one, p.m., 10 ; at 
two, 5 ; at three, 3 ; ascending at four', p.m., to 5 : then to 11, 18, 24, 30, and 32 at nine in the evening : 
again declining to 30 at ten, 19 at eleven, and to zero at midnight. " The nature of the wind makes a 
decided alteration in the amount of electricity in the air :" thus, when the wind is from S.E. to E.S.E., 
the electricity is at a maximum, or as 312 when compared with 102, the minimum which is produced 
by a wind at from N.N.W. to North. " The state of the weather also seems to influence materially the 
quantity of electricity, as is shown by the following observations : — 
Cloudy. 
January, 268 
February, 220 
March, 129 
April, 71 
May, 46 
June 36 
STATE OF 
THE SKY. 
Clear. 
1138 
July- 
493 
August, 
261 
September, 
149 
October, 
63 
November, 
37 
December, 
Cloudy. 
Clear. 
41 
35 
56 
64 
42 
76 
75 
168 
109 
220 
181 
571 
" It is, therefore, obvious, that there is much more electricity in clear than in cloudy weather. In 
a fog or snow the amount of electricity is always great, approaching the mean maximum of the cold 
mouths, and double that of rain. In fog, the electricity of the air equals 64° ; in snow 64° ; in rain 35°. 
These interesting results of Quetelet, obtained by careful investigations at Brussels, form the first pre- 
cise knowledge of the electricity of the atmosphere." Thus far I have ventured to trespass, faithfully 
as (o the matter, where curtailment has been required. 
The simple, great question as to the existence of electricity in the atmosphere, is decisively solved. 
That it is derived from the Sun, as the great fountain and source of light, electro-magnetism, the 
actinic or chemical principle, and of heat, as an effect or result of chemical disturbance, is a problem, 
the solution of which also can scarcely be doubted. A few remarks, therefore, suggest themselves, 
with which I bring this paper to a close. Combining the several data furnished by Quetelet, ns above, 
particularly those which refer to a state of fog or mist, 1 beg to recall the reader's attention to thai pas- 
sage in the first article upon electricity (p. 88), which, on the authority of 1 >r. Faraday's Experinu ntal 
Jifscarchcs, recited the immense volume of electricity that is required to decompose one grain of pure 
water, and to developc its elementary gases — a volume equal to that of a powerful flash of lightning! 
\\ lun water is decomposed by nn electric current, and its hydrogen and oxygen collected sepa- 
rately, the volume of the former is seen to be a very little above twice that of the latter, yet in point of 
weight, the hydrogen maybe estimated at only 1-1 0th of the oxygen, in round numbers, or as 2. 14 grains 
arc to 34.2 grains ; per 100 cubic inches. Hydrogen is the lightest of all known substances that pos- 
1^3 — — — SS^ 
