Meter-scale variations of the charge carried by mesospheric dust

• Published in: Planetary and space science Vol. 44; no. 10; pp. 1191 - 1194
• Main Authors: Havnes, O., Næsheim, L.I., Hartquist, T.W., Morfill, G.E., Melandsø, F., Schleicher, B., Trøim, J., Blix, T., Thrane, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-1996
• ISSN: 0032-0633; 1873-5088
• DOI: 10.1016/S0032-0633(96)00041-4

Results from the first direct rocket probe measurements of the currents due to impacting mesospheric dust are reported. The observations which are corrected for production of secondary electrons during impact show that dust is a major charge carrier during polar mesosphere summer echo (PMSE) conditions and that the charge density of the dust can vary strongly over a vertical distance of several meters only. The dust is negatively charged in the reported case.