Articles | Volume 13, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-13-133-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-13-133-2022
Article
 | 
08 Aug 2022
Article |  | 08 Aug 2022

Atmospheric electricity observations at Lerwick Geophysical Observatory

R. Giles Harrison and John C. Riddick

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Cited articles

Airy, G.: Magnetical and meteorological observations made at The Royal Observatory, Greenwich in the year 1847, London, Board of the Admiralty, Palmer and Clayton, 1847. 
Aplin, K. L. and Harrison, R. G.: Lord Kelvin's atmospheric electricity measurements, Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 4, 83–95, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-4-83-2013, 2013. 
Ashford, O.: A history of Lerwick Observatory, in: Proceedings of a conference held at St Mary's College, University of Durham, 5–7 September 1991, in celebration of 150 years of meteorology in Durham, edited by: Giles, B. D. and Kenworthy, J. M., University of Durham, 1994. 
Benndorf, H.: Über ein mechanisch registrierendes elektrometer für luftelektrische messungen, Physische Zeitschrift, 7, 98–101, 1906. 
Bennett, A. J. and Harrison, R. G.: Atmospheric electricity in different weather conditions, Weather, 62, 277–283, https://doi.org/10.1002/wea.97, 2007. 
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Short summary
Lerwick Observatory in Shetland has recently celebrated its centenary. Measurements of atmospheric electricity were made at the site between 1925 and 1984. The instruments and equipment used for this are discussed and the value of the measurements obtained assessed. A major aspect of the atmospheric electricity work was explaining the dramatic changes which followed the nuclear weapons test period. Although less well known, there are strong parallels with the discovery of the ozone hole.