On Dec 28, 2010, at 6:38 AM, Olin Lathrop wrote:

> This implies there is something like a Van DeGraf generator happening
> on a large scale driven by wind.  I suppose that's possible, since
> thunderstorms seem to be charged by a similar effect, although in =20
> that case
> the wind is vertical.  Still, you'd think any charge imballance =20
> would find a
> way to short itself out before long if it were significant.

There is supposed to be a substantial and essentially permanent =20
vertical electric field through the atmosphere.  You can supposedly =20
power small electrostatic motors merely by hoisting a pointy antenna a =20
couple of tens of meters.  It's one of the things that leads people =20
astray looking for free energy...

BillW

--=20
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