Re: Charge on the Earth

[inet@intellisys.net (brian whatcott)]

At 05:13 PM 4/8/97 -0600, John D. Sample wrote:
> At 4:11 PM on 4/8/97, <phys-l@mailer.uwf.edu> wrote:
> > Vol II Ch 9.
> >
> > Dan M
> >
> > > Another interesting reference is a chapter in the Feynman Lectures
> > > on lightning and atmospheric electricity. I recommend it highly.
> > >
> > > Leigh
>
> Wherein we find the avg charging current of thunderstorms on the planet to
> be about 1800 Amps; consistent with Uman's figure (All About Lightning, ch
> 18) of 2000 Amps.  We are expecting to see some of that tonight!
>
> Chip
I notice Feynman says ( page 9-3),
"The total electric electric current reaching the earth's surface at any time is
very nearly constant at 1800 amperes."

This appears to be in error.  (I do not have a Uman)

Israel notes the integrated thunderstorm current and the fair weather current
are similar to the value quoted by Feynman  but of opposite polarities.

However, I cannot locate the putative reference for this value of one ampere
as the overall result that I quoted earlier. It DOES seem suspiciously low.

Sincerely
brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK