Abstract/Summary

Modifying droplet behaviour has wide applications, from removing pathogens to increasing rainfall. In an environmental experiment, negative charge release is demonstrated to influence a natural fog. During charge emission, the average mass concentration of 1mdroplets increased by 95.3%. For smaller droplets, concentrations during charge emission exceeded those without charge emission at the 99% confidence level. This is consistent with charge both facilitating formation of small droplets and inhibiting their evaporation. Physics-based droplet modification has immediate relevance to weather modification and, conceivably, pathogen control, without the introduction of additional chemical materials.