Electrical Properties of Ice.
Abstract
An experimental and phenomenological study was made of the charge separation at the advancing surface of growing ice (Workman-Reynolds effect). The charge separation is fundamentally ascribed to anions and cations of an electrolyte solute crossing the phase boundary at different rates. The sign of the charge on the ice is determined by the preferentially incorporated ion constituent. The magnitude is determined by solute species, solute concentrations, and freezing rate. The process is very sensitive to hydrogen-ion concentration. Solutes widely present in meteoric waters, ammonium, bicarbonate, sodium, and chloride, give rise to large charge separations. Although the present results suggest that water free of impurities will not show appreciable charge separation upon freezing, this question, of paramount importance for an understanding of cloud processes, requires further investigation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0718359
Entities
People
- Gerardo Wolfgang Gross
Organizations
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology