Years ago in my museum days I was having to explain rainbow optics to the
general public ...and also having to explain thunderstorms. I stumbled
across a strange idea: shouldn't the electrostatic fields in
thunderstorms have a visible affect on rainbows? E-fields should slightly
distort falling raindrops, causing the light distribution of a rainbow to
change slightly. We should notice that a rainbow suddenly "flicks" during
a lightning bolt, then slowly changes to its initial pattern as the
e-fields build before another strike.
I just heard about two videos on youtube which apparently show this in action!
But it's not rainbows. Instead it's suspended mist droplets condensing just
above a rising thunderhead, droplets brightly back-lit by the sun. Take a
look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z_-uK5Btik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9Ks6H3coY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUcH3VClzUI
Maybe it's not distortions of droplet shape. E-fields are known to affect
the rate of condensation of small droplets. Maybe the e-fields cause
newly- condensed droplets to grow or shrink visibly.
(((((((((((((((((( ( ( ( ( (O) ) ) ) ) )))))))))))))))))))
William J. Beaty http://staff.washington.edu/wbeaty/
beaty chem washington edu Research Engineer
billbamascicom UW Chem Dept, Bagley Hall RM74
206-543-6195 Box 351700, Seattle, WA 98195-1700
