Abstract
Atmospheric small-ion enhancement is widely employed in medical, physiological and horticultural research. Accurate measurements of both positive and negative ion concentrations are then essential, but in the face of the high ion ratios encountered — up to 103 — the classical two-electrode counter is unable to measure the ion of low concentration. It is found that the reading is obliterated by noise.
The phenomenon is demonstrated and the theory of counting chambers is extended to include it. A novel three-electrode chamber which is free from ion-induced noise is then designed and the Paper concludes with the test results obtained by its use.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
CHALMERS, J. A. (1967): Atmospheric Electricity. Pergamon Press, London, Chapter 2.
PRICE, W. J. (1958): Nuclear Radiation Detection. McGraw-Hill, New York, 103–105.
TOBEY, B. E., GRAEME, J. G. and HUELSMAN, L. P. (1971): Operational Amplifiers, Design and Applications. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moody, N.F. Measurement of ion-induced noise in atmospheric counting chambers, and a novel chamber for its elimination. Int J Biometeorol 25, 331–339 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02198248
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02198248