Quantification of Charge in a Dust Devil based on its ULF Magnetic Signature
Abstract
In summers of 2000, 2001 and 2002, three separate desert campaigns took place to study the fluid and electrodynamic nature of dust devils. One surprising new result from these intense studies is the discovery of a ULF magnetic signature associated with the devils. In this paper, we will discuss the observations of the low frequency magnetic activity and quantify the amount of dust devil tribocharging required to obtain the signal, treating the devil as a radiating solenoid. This charge density will be compared to that derived based on the electrostatic fields. We demonstrate that dust devils are very active charge generators, creating charge densities comparable to the terrestrial ionosphere. Implication for similar processes at Mars will be discussed, including the charged dust devil effects on electric-sensitive equipment.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUFM.P51A0336F
- Keywords:
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- 5409 Atmospheres: structure and dynamics;
- 5421 Interactions with particles and fields;
- 5445 Meteorology (3346)