Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-23

from Science For All.
The observations of the meteorologists show
that the Vapor which ascends in an invisible
state from the ground carries with it, in calm
and fine weather. into the higher regions Of the
air a very considerable supply OF positive cleo.
triclty Each minute vapOr-particie that goes
up bears Its own portion of the load. When,
however, the invisible vapor has thus mounted
in To very high regions of air, it ses its inyisi
biiity, and Is condensed into visible mist as
has already been explained in detail. Numer.
GUS Particles Oh the aqueous substances are
drawn Close together ana grouped into the form
Oh little ,eslcies Or giooulea. Eacn one of these
Is then reservoir or receptacle Ut electric orce
anu more and more watery vesicieS are CON.
densed more and more electricity is collected
In Inc gathering mist; out escu OF the Water glo-
Dules Is still enveioped by space OF clear air.
In u drifting cloud the nist-spycks can tie dis.
cerned floating along with Transparent inter
Walls between. Inc Gear air whicu lies
around tue Siobules of vapOr then acts as an
Insulating Investment; it imprisons its own
part OF t.ie acquired electrical iorce in each
separate siobuIe. The cloud is thu, not charged
as Il wnole, ike IL continuous mass of ,neIai
with lis electricity spread upon its outer sur
face IL Is independently TED everywhere with
the force. 1t IS composed OF my Rad OF electro
ned specks, each having its own particular
share oi te electric force, anu each acting as a
center III eltetflc.l energy On Its own account,
the electricity which ut any one instant reside
LIN the outer surface of Il cloud is, therefore,
out IL comparatively small portion OF inaL
which Is present IN the entire vaporous mass.
That sucn Is the way in which electricity Is
stored lii the clouds has been proved by direct
observation. hen II guld-ieai eiectrOmeIer is
placed i'll Inc midst oil Il cloud driven along by
the wind, IL is seen tuaL strips of yoiu-Ietf
continually Oil erse and collapse the mass
Vi the ciOud passes along. There is an eiec-
tTlcti charge acting lii i parts, but the charge
varies In Intensity from p place accord
ingIy a, there Is greater or less conu eusation
oil the PARTICLES OF Vapor i'll each particular
spot. but the influence externally eXerted by
tue cIouu Is never nciesS c;tpaDi UfDeiug raised
To "a Very intense degree, because il is, So 10
speak, the sum total or outcome OF the force
contained In the lnnulneraDle internal centers
| or energy.
IL Is no uncommon thing for the electrical
force elnanatlng from a cloud to make itself
ieit III attractions and repulsions many miles
away. clouds resting upon the remote horizon
thus frequently produce perceptiDie effects at
cannot Ue seen. All electrical cloud hanging 4.
mile above the ground acts inducliveiy upon
That ground with considerable power, When
III summer time The temperature OF the earth s
surface Is very NIGH the ground moist the air
cain and the sky clear, very copious supplies
OF 'apor are steamed up rom the ground under
the not sunshine. Clouds, however begin at
lehSth Ia gather IN elevated REGIONS OF the air
OUT Oh the abundance OF the supply. The free
eiectficity Wnich has been carried up with the
| ,,p Is ~ nist pretty evenly spread through
the clouds; Dut alter Il time, as the eleclricai
| charge becomes more and more intense n now.
efiui fepuisiVe Iorce Is i'll the end established
between the spEeruIeS OF the mist. and IL very
hish oeSree .. tension Is at last produced at the
outer surface oil The cloud where il IS enyelOue,i
by Insulating AIR, until i'll the end the eXpan.
| siVe energy there becomes strong enough 10 oc-
| cas!on an outburst from the csolu The esc,pe
| % tue redundant charge then appears To an Uu.
server 5 eS as u has vi ilgntning issuing from
'tie SuCh, III its sim pesL form, Is the way
| IN WhicL lightning is kindled in the storm
| cloud.