Articles | Volume 8, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-8-1-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-8-1-2017
Review article
 | 
04 Jan 2017
Review article |  | 04 Jan 2017

Julius Elster and Hans Geitel – Dioscuri of physics and pioneer investigators in atmospheric electricity

Rudolf G. A. Fricke and Kristian Schlegel

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Between 1880 and 1910 Elster and Geitel made important contributions to atmospheric electricity, in particular to precipitation electricity, the influence of solar radiation on the electric state of the atmosphere, the nature of charge carriers, and the ionization of air by radioactivity. They invented new instruments with unprecedented accuracy and reliability. A very modern concept was their attitude to undertake long-term measurements at various locations.