Considerations on Practical Application of Atmospheric Electricity Concepts and Methods

Abstract

Expectations that they will be able to apply results from ongoing basic research for their operational purposes is low among some persons attempting to solve practical problems. This is certainly true for the majority of meteorologists with regard to results from atmospheric electricity theories and experiments. In addition to the generation of false hopes in the past, this is a consequence of a narrowing of view angles forced on the operational practioneers by the demands under which they are working; and of some attitudes of neglect which can hardly be contested with regard to the investigators in the basic field. Both amount to a breakdown of communication; but the proliferation of scientific as well as application-oriented journals and conferences has also created a void in technical means of communication: nobody can read or attend them all.

A consideration of the potentials on both sides leads to the conclusion that additional efforts are required from the researcher. If he wants to retain his freedom to define the scientific problems he intends to approach, he is and will be more and more forced to add working hours for not only making his results better digestible but also for generating communication means for the transfer of knowledge. The bulk of some of this work rests with agencies which support research and in some countries with special organizations within the academic community, but must be supported by the efforts of the researcher himself.