Electrostatics in sandstorms and earthquakes

ORAL

Abstract

We present new data demonstrating (1) that electrostatic charging in sandstorms is a necessary outcome in a class of rapid collisional flows, and (2) that electrostatic precursors to slip events - long reported in earthquakes - can be reproduced in the laboratory.

Authors

  • Troy Shinbrot

    • Rutgers University
    • Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
  • Nirmal Thyagu

    • Rutgers University
  • Thomas Paehtz

    • ETH, Z\"urich
  • Hans Herrmann

    • ETH, Z\"urich