Further studies on electrical conductivity of monsoon rain water at Calcutta

Abstract

Study on electrical conductivity of monsoon rain water conducted by the author, was further continued in 1955, 1956 and 1958, and the results are reported in this paper-(i) The conductivity of rain water from different showers during a passage of a cyclonic storm near the station passed through a 1951 minimum which coincided with the maximum surface wind; (ii) Samples collected in thundershowers showed more or less regular variation with time counted from the start of rain. Towards the end of a thundershower a conductivity K and intensity I of rainfall in some cases may be related by the equation K µ I^-n where n is a positive fraction; (iii) Samples from cumuliform clouds where no thunder was heard showed, in general, an irregular variation of conductivity; (iv) Rain from altostratus and preceded by long spells of rainfall or of heavy downpour may give water samples of the order of purity as conductivity water; and (v) Unlike some som observations at Scandinavian stations, conductivity value of total water of a particular rainfall was never as low as that of conductivity water.