Citation

Anderson R, Gathman S, Hughes J, Björnsson S, Jónasson S, Blanchard DC, Moore CB, Survilas HJ, Vonnegut B. Science 1965; 148(3674): 1179-1189.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1965, American Association for the Advancement of Science)

DOI

10.1126/science.148.3674.1179

PMID

17748113

Abstract

In November of 1963 an oceanic volcano produced an island, Surtsey, just off the southern coast of Iceland. The volcanic crater was often flooded with sea water. Vigorous eruptions of steam and tephra were accompanied by an enhancement of the normal fine-weather potential gradient, and lightning was often observed. Measurements of atmospheric electricity and visual and photographic observations lead us to believe that the electrical activity is caused by the ejection from the volcano into the atmosphere of material carrying a large positive charge. The concentration of charge in the eruption plume as it issued from the orifice of the volcano is estimated to be of the order of 10(5) or 10(6) elementary charges per cubic centimeter.

Language: en