Exploring Earth's Negative Charge: Causes and Effects

[leolaw]

How come the Earth is negatively charged?

 

[Astronuc]

Where did you hear or read that?

Do you mean the Earth including the atmosphere or just the Earth's surface?

Electrons are much more easily removed from molecules in the air and clouds. Rain can carry the electrons to the Earth where the negative charge is distributed. At some point, a lighting discharge occurs and some of the electrons travel up the arc back to the positive ions.

What is the Earth's charge?
The Earth is electrically charged and acts as a spherical capacitor. The Earth has a net negative charge of about a million coulombs, while an equal and positive charge resides in the atmosphere.

The electrical resistivity of the atmosphere decreases with height to an altitude of about 48 kilometres (km), where the resistivity becomes more-or-less constant. This region is known as the electrosphere. There is about a 300 000 volt (V) potential difference between the Earth's surface and the electrosphere, which gives an average electric field strength of about 6 V/metre (m) throughout the atmosphere. Near the surface, the fine-weather electric field strength is about 100 V/m.

from http://nofc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/science/research/lightning_e.html

As far as I know, the Earth (including atmosphere is electrically neutral).

 

[wais]

There are several factors that contribute to the Earth's negative charge. One of the main reasons is the presence of an outer layer of negatively charged particles in the Earth's atmosphere, known as the ionosphere. This layer is created by the constant bombardment of high-energy particles from the sun, which strip electrons from atoms in the upper atmosphere and create a negative charge.

Another factor is the Earth's rotation, which creates a magnetic field around the planet. This magnetic field interacts with the charged particles from the sun, causing them to accumulate near the poles and creating a negative charge in those regions.

Additionally, the Earth's surface is made up of a diverse mix of materials, some of which can hold a negative charge. For example, clay minerals and certain types of rocks have a net negative charge, which can contribute to the overall negative charge of the Earth's surface.

The effects of the Earth's negative charge can be seen in various phenomena, such as lightning strikes and the formation of thunderstorms. The negative charge of the Earth also plays a role in the global electric circuit, which helps to balance the electrical potential between the Earth and the ionosphere.

Overall, the Earth's negative charge is a natural phenomenon that is influenced by a combination of factors and has important effects on the planet's weather and electrical processes.