The earth’s
surface has a negative surface charge density of 10−9
C m−2. The potential difference of 400 kV between
the top of the atmosphere and the surface results (due to the low
conductivity of the lower atmosphere) in a current of only 1800 A
over the entire globe. If there were no mechanism of sustaining
atmospheric electric field, how much time (roughly) would be required
to neutralise the earth’s surface? (This never happens in
practice because there is a mechanism to replenish electric charges,
namely the continual thunderstorms and lightning in different parts
of the globe). (Radius of earth = 6.37 × 106
m.)