On the Positive Electrification of Snow Crystals in the Process of Their Melting

Abstract

Charges on artificially melted snow crystals were measured and compared with those of unmelted crystals which fell at Mt. Teine, and it was found that the snow crystals acquired considerable positive charge in their melting process. The result of this observation appears to explain the usual phenomenon that in continuous rainfall the negative surface electric field is predominant and most of raindrops are charged positively while in quiet snowfall positive field is predominant and snow crystals carry negative charge in most cases.