Atmospheric Electricity

Atmospheric Electricity
Physics
Type	Ambient energy harvesting
Field Strength	~100–150 V/m (fair weather, ground level)
Global Potential	~300,000–400,000 V (surface to ionosphere)
Global Current	~1,000–2,000 A continuously
Available Power	~400 GW (global circuit)
Key Patents	Tesla US 685,957 · Plauson US 1,540,998
Related Tech	Thunderstorm Generator · Suppressed Energy Technology

Atmospheric Electricity refers to the natural electric field between the Earth's surface and its ionosphere, and the technologies designed to harvest this energy. The Earth maintains a continuous atmospheric potential gradient of approximately 100–150 V/m at ground level under fair weather conditions, representing an enormous untapped energy source.

The Global Electric Circuit

$E_{\text{atm}}\approx 100{-}150{\text{ V/m (fair weather)}}$

Failed to parse (syntax error): {\displaystyle V_{\text{total}} \approx 300{,}000{-}400{,}000 \text{ V (surface to ionosphere at ~60 km)}}

$I_{\text{global}}\approx 1{,}000{-}2{,}000{\text{ A}}$

$P_{\text{global}}=V\times I\approx 4\times 10^{11}{\text{ W}}=400{\text{ GW}}$

Thunderstorms act as the "batteries" of this circuit, continuously pumping negative charge to the Earth's surface and positive charge to the upper atmosphere via convective charge transport.

Tesla's Radiant Energy Apparatus (US 685,957, 1901)

Nikola Tesla's patent describes a system for collecting atmospheric charge:

• Elevated conducting plate — insulated, polished metal exposed to sky
• Ground connection — Tesla: "the earth is a vast reservoir of negative electricity"
• Mica dielectric condenser — stores accumulated charge
• Circuit controller — discharges condenser through load at threshold voltage

Current collected by an elevated plate:

$I=\sigma \cdot E_{\text{atm}}\cdot A_{\text{eff}}$

where $\sigma \sim 10^{-14}$ S/m (atmospheric conductivity, increasing with altitude).

Plauson's Atmospheric Converter (US 1,540,998, 1925)

Hermann Plauson's comprehensive patent describes industrial-scale harvesting:

• Metallic balloon collectors — aluminum-magnesium alloy (magnalium, sp.gr. 1.8), 0.1–0.2 mm thick, filled with H₂ or He
• Altitude: 300–5,000 m on coppered steel hawsers
• Radioactive ionization enhancement — polonium/mesothorium on surfaces to increase charge collection
• Spark gap oscillation circuit — converts DC atmospheric charge to high-frequency AC
• Condenser batteries — cooled in liquefied gases for large installations
• Safety electromagnets — protect against lightning surges

At 300 m altitude: $V\approx 100{\text{ V/m}}\times 300{\text{ m}}=30{,}000{\text{ V}}$

Resonant conversion frequency:

$f={\frac {1}{2\pi {\sqrt {LC}}}}$

Connection to the Thunderstorm Generator

The term "Thunderstorm Generator" encompasses both:

1. MSAART plasmoid-based systems (Malcolm Bendall) — using plasmoids from water
2. Atmospheric electricity harvesting — using the global electric circuit directly

Both tap into suppressed energy sources. The atmospheric harvesting approach provides the historical and theoretical lineage, while MSAART provides the modern practical implementation.

See Also

• Thunderstorm Generator
• Hermann Plauson
• Suppressed Energy Technology
• Electrogravitics
• Tho'ra Vehicle Technology Ladder

External References

• Tesla, Nikola. US Patent 685,957 — "Apparatus for the utilization of radiant energy" (1901).
• Plauson, Hermann. US Patent 1,540,998 — "Conversion of atmospheric electric energy" (1925).
• Rycroft, M.J. et al. "An overview of Earth's global electric circuit and atmospheric conductivity." Space Science Reviews 137:83–105 (2008).