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Instrument

EFM
Electric Field Mill

An Electric Field Mill (EFM) is a ground-based and airborne electric field sensor developed at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). It measures all vector components of the atmospheric electric field and provides information about the electrical structure inside and around storms. EFMs can detect both intracloud and cloud-to-ground lightning and operate in large thunderstorm fields (thousands of volts per meter). An EFM typically has a response time of about 10 Hz.

Image of an aiborne EFM

Image of an aiborne EFM

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Measurement Type

Magnetic/Electric

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Electricity > Electric Field

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Electricity

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Electricity > Lightning

Vertical Measurement Regions

Land Surface, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

50 Hz

Spatial Resolution

N/A

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH2039.1

Online Information

https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH2039.1

Lead Investigator
Monte Bateman
Technical Contact
Monte Bateman
Instrument Maker
MSFC
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC (GHRC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

this is an image of the ALTUS II aircraft

this is an image of the ALTUS II aircraft

ALTUS II

1 Campaign · 8 Instruments

Altus Cumulus Electrification Study

Florida Everglades

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· 6 Data Products

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Field Site

77 Campaigns · 175 Instruments

Hydrological Cycle in Mediterranean Experiment

The Mediterranean

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· 3 Data Products

Image of research vehicles used during DISCOVER-AQ

Image of research vehicles used during DISCOVER-AQ

Vehicle

21 Campaigns · 68 Instruments

Convection and Moisture Experiment

US Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean

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· 70 Data Products

Plains Elevated Convection at Night

Great Plains, United States

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· 0 Data Products

P-3 Orion

31 Campaigns · 153 Instruments

Convection and Moisture Experiment

US Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean

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· 70 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Permanent Land Site

67 Campaigns · 103 Instruments

Altus Cumulus Electrification Study

Florida Everglades

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· 6 Data Products

Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment

East-Central Florida

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· 0 Data Products

Beechcraft B-200 King Air

41 Campaigns · 87 Instruments

Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment

East-Central Florida

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· 0 Data Products

SPEC Learjet during the SEAC4RS campaign

SPEC Learjet during the SEAC4RS campaign

SPEC Inc. Learjet 25

8 Campaigns · 30 Instruments

Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment

East-Central Florida

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· 0 Data Products

NCAR Sailplane

1 Campaign · 3 Instruments

Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment

East-Central Florida

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· 0 Data Products

SDSMT T-28

1 Campaign · 5 Instruments

Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment

East-Central Florida

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· 0 Data Products

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns

Platforms

ACES ELECTRIC FIELD MILL V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/ACES/FIELDMILL/DATA101

CampaignsAltus Cumulus Electrification Study

PlatformsALTUS II

ACES TRIGGERED DATA V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/ACES/MULTIPLE/DATA102

CampaignsAltus Cumulus Electrification Study

PlatformsALTUS II

ACES CONTINUOUS DATA V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/ACES/MULIPLE/DATA101

CampaignsAltus Cumulus Electrification Study

PlatformsALTUS II

CAMEX-4 MIPS FIELD MILL V110.5067/CAMEX-4/FIELDMILL/DATA101

CampaignsConvection and Moisture Experiment

PlatformsVehicle