The Campbell Scientific CS110 is a high-precision electric field mill designed for both lightning warning systems and atmospheric electricity research. At ENGEOS Lab, it is used to continuously monitor the vertical component of the atmospheric electric field at the Earth’s surface.
The CS110 system includes:
- An integrated CR1000 datalogger for onboard data processing and logging
- Expansion capability to interface with other sensors and peripherals
- A reciprocating shutter mechanism, replacing the conventional rotating vane design
Key Features:
- Reciprocating Shutter Design:
Unlike traditional field mills, the CS110 uses a grounded reciprocating shutter connected via a flexible stainless-steel strap. This design provides:
- Superior low-frequency error performance
- A zero-field reference point for each measurement
- Improved reliability through operation below mechanical fatigue limits
- Offset Correction and Measurement Accuracy:
The zero-field (shutter-closed) reference allows for real-time correction of:
- Electronic offsets
- Contact potentials
- Leakage currents
- Insulator Leakage Compensation:
The CS110 actively compensates for leakage currents on the charge amplifier input. This is crucial when insulator surfaces are contaminated (e.g., due to fog or dust), which would otherwise cause signal drift or saturation.
This robust compensation circuitry ensures accurate electric field measurements even under adverse environmental conditions, making the CS110 ideal for research in challenging climates like those of the UAE.
For more details on the CS110’s operation and its performance under various weather conditions, including fog events, please refer to our publication: Atmospheric Electric Field Variability During Foggy Conditions, Journal of Arid Environments.
Figure 6. Electric Field Mill.
