That charge varies with height creating a potential gradient, with an increase about 100 volts per meter at ground level becoming weaker at higher altitudes reaching a maximum of 400,000 volts.
If conditions of pressure, humidity and temperature allow, clouds form within atmosphere. Clouds are droplets of water which float in the air (fog) and can carry much more water than saturated air (100% humidity or water dissolved). Clouds can charge according to the potential at each level and when they get denser eventually become conductive and shortcut this potential generating lightning.
But before lightening happens. All clouds carry charges that are several times bigger than the atmosphere alone, according to their position within Earth's potential gradient shown above.
Atmosphere together with clouds and ionosphere, all charged positively, turn with Earth at a speed that ranges from 0 at poles to about 1000 mph at equator. Ionosphere is part of the atmosphere. Ionosphere being ionized it is also electrically charged. Moving electric charges always generate a magnetic field. Ionosphere and atmosphere together with clouds, jet-streams and electrojets all rotate with Earth from west to east.
Total moving electric charges rotating around Earth that is made 35% of iron are responsible for Earth's magnetic field. Applying right hand rule for coils we even get the correct direction of the field.
But before lightening happens. All clouds carry charges that are several times bigger than the atmosphere alone, according to their position within Earth's potential gradient shown above.
Atmosphere together with clouds and ionosphere, all charged positively, turn with Earth at a speed that ranges from 0 at poles to about 1000 mph at equator. Ionosphere is part of the atmosphere. Ionosphere being ionized it is also electrically charged. Moving electric charges always generate a magnetic field. Ionosphere and atmosphere together with clouds, jet-streams and electrojets all rotate with Earth from west to east.
Total moving electric charges rotating around Earth that is made 35% of iron are responsible for Earth's magnetic field. Applying right hand rule for coils we even get the correct direction of the field.
It doesn't matter that the iron core rotates together with the atmosphere. Even without the core, there would still be a magnetic field created by the rotating atmosphere, though about 200 times smaller.
If the surface of the Earth was charged negatively, as current common knowledge states, clouds will be attracted to Earth. It is also common knowledge that Earth itself is neutral and is used as such when wiring the buildings.
Here is a cloud catching device seen near GSR hotel in Reno, Nevada, right after it released a cloud that caused a little rain in downtown on a hot day, for purpose of lowering AC bill. Clouds being charged, it attracts them by means of electrostatic force.
