Re: [Phys-L] Atmospheric Energy

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 05/01/2012 02:43 PM, Donald Polvani wrote:
> involve a collecting balloon
> at cloud levels connected by a conducting cable to a "power converter" (also
> up in the atmosphere), then by conducting cable to a ground "isolation
> platform" and then connected to a power generator.

I quote from Federal Aviation Regulation 101.13, in part:

> >  .... no person may operate a moored balloon or kite—
> >
> > (1) Less than 500 feet from the base of any cloud;
> >
> > (2) More than 500 feet above the surface of the earth;

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.3.15&idno=14#14:2.0.1.3.15.2.9.2

Not only is it illegal, the physics doesn't make sense.
According to Feynman volume II chapter 9, the fair-weather
current is something like 10^-12 amps per square meter.
So, even though the voltage is large, it's hard to collect
a lot of power.