ELECTRIFICATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Atmospheric electricity presents a hazard to shipping and there have been several serious fires caused by lightning strikes on tankers. There have also been a number of explosions during tanker cleaning. It has been suggested that there are some similarities between electrical conditions in a thundercloud and themists in tankers. This article attempts to clarify the situation by describing the electrical fields in fine weather and in thunderclouds, and it also discusses electrical charge generation and lightning discharge and damage. Results of testing with man-made thunderstorms are described, and conclusions which the author feels would make tanker operations safer are also discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01420666
• Corporate Authors:

  Fuel and Metallurgical Journals Limited

  John Adam House, John Adam Street
  London WC2N 6JH,   England 
• Authors:
  • Millward, G E
• Publication Date: 1974-11

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 7 p.
• Serial:
  • Safety at Sea International
  • Issue Number: 68
  • Publisher: DMG World Media, Limited
  • ISSN: 0142-0666

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cleaning; Electric fields; Electrostatics; Marine safety; Ship operations; Storage tanks; Tankers
• Old TRIS Terms: Tank cleaning; Tanker operations; Tanker safety
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00095161
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Maritime Research Center, Kings Point
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 29 1975 12:00AM