Airborne measurements of atmospheric electrical conductivities

Atmospheric electrical polar conductivities were measured using a Gerdien condenser mounted on an aircraft. These surveys, conducted over the western coast of South India, have detected enhanced conductivities associated with the placer deposits of the radioactive mineral monazite found in this region. The data reflect the variation in the level of surface radioactivity along the flight routes. In one flight that rose over the sea up to 1 km, the effect of radioactivity was seen to extend up to this point. Over land the influence of the surface radioactivity on electrical conductivity is mostly confined to the region of occurrence of the deposits. These studies also suggest the possibility of employing the Gerdien condenser in preliminary surveys to detect the presence of radioactivity.