On the Electricity of Snow

Abstract

Some measurements were made on the electricity of snow at the Observatory on Mt. Fuji (3776m). The results were as follows:
(1) Most of the snow particles, drifted by wind from the surface on fine days, were charged positively, and had the mean charge of 7.4×10^-4 e. s. u. per particle.
(2) The snow particles scooped at random from the snow surface were all charged positively, and had the mean charge of 4.7×10^-4 e. s. u.
(3) The snow flakes (nucleus) were all charged positively. The nuclei were 0.2_??_1mm long and had a charge of 1_??_4×10^-4 e. s. u.
Soft hails had both kinds of electricity, the ratio of the numbers of each was 1.4 and the mean charges were +28, -33×10^-4 e. s. u. (max. reached +67, -80×10^-4 e. s. u.)
(4) On rubbing snow particles against each other, it was found that a large quantity of electricity was easily obtained in this way. In this experiment, negatively charged particles were often observed, and we could not reach any conclusion on the mechanism of electrification.