Elmo lights and glow on objects in a cloud of electrically charged water droplets

TL;DR

This paper investigates Saint Elmo's Fire through laboratory experiments, revealing that it results from sparking along jets emitted from conically shaped water droplets on objects, enhancing understanding of this atmospheric phenomenon.

Contribution

The study provides a detailed laboratory analysis of Saint Elmo's Fire, identifying the specific role of water droplet jets in its occurrence, which is a novel insight.

Findings

Saint Elmo's Fire is caused by sparking along jets from water droplets.

Conically shaped water droplets are key to the phenomenon.

Laboratory simulation confirms the mechanism of the fire.

Abstract

We made a detailed study of Saint Elmo's Fire in the laboratory and discovered that the fire is due to sparking along the jets emitted from conically shaped water droplets located on objects.