The Earth Circuit
There is a continuous flow of electrons from the sun to the ionosphere via the solar wind, and thence to the earth's surface via lightning strikes. Lightning keeps the conductive surface of the earth electrically charged. Around 2000 storms are active around the globe at any moment, discharging thousands of lightning strikes.
Atmospheric electricity is the study of electrical charges in the Earth's atmosphere. The movement of charge between the Earth's surface, the atmosphere, and the ionosphere is known as the global atmospheric electrical circuit. Atmospheric electricity is an interdisciplinary topic with a long history, involving concepts from electrostatics, atmospheric physics, meteorology and Earth science.
Thunderstorms act as a giant battery in the atmosphere, charging up the electrosphere to about 400,000 volts with respect to the surface. This sets up an electric field throughout the atmosphere, which decreases with increase in altitude. Atmospheric ions created by cosmic rays and natural radioactivity move in the electric field, so a very small current flows through the atmosphere, even away from thunderstorms. Near the surface of the Earth, the magnitude of the field is on average around 100 V/m.
Atmospheric electricity involves both thunderstorms, which create lightning bolts to rapidly discharge huge amounts of atmospheric charge stored in storm clouds, and the continual electrification of the air due to ionization from cosmic rays and natural radioactivity, which ensure that the atmosphere is never quite neutral.
Electrostatics is the branch of physics that teaches that when two conductive objects with different electrical potential touch each other, there is a virtually instantaneous transfer of charge so that the two objects equilibrate to the same electrical potential. The human body is a conductor of electricity and so is the earth.
This earth circuit is the reason you're able to take advantage of the many benefits of grounding. I've made numerous videos and illustrations about these benefits which you'll find on this page, TGA website, and any podcast I've been on (links on website).
Take advantage!
Rob ⏚