LF: Earth capacitance

[Andy Talbot <andy.g4jnt@gmail.com>]

Here's an interesting little thought excercise

Consider the Earth as one plate of a capacitor, and the lower surface
of the ionosphere as the other.   Without actually doing the
calculation, what do you 'feel' the capacitiance might be?

Then do the calculation; the result is rather surprising

The ionsphere is charged to about 0.25MV, and leaking at a rate of
1pA/m^2.   Topped up by lightning strikes

Andy
www.g4jnt.com