This phenomenon is certainly a number one irritant. It is like a computer virus, that comes up unannounced, is capable of causing extensive damage and one can never quite get rid of it permanently. One has to constantly run antiviruses to remove it. But it comes back again.
I am talking about the static charge. It has assumed epidemic proportions in Antarctica. We expect anything we touch to give a powerful shock. Human touch, door handles, walls, taps, tables, cupboards, clothes- anything. We gingerly touch- or rather, tap anything we are about to touch to minimize the shock and to discharge ourselves. Static charge can be so strong that sometimes sparks have been seen flying between 2 hands about to be shaken. We truly have an “electrifying” atmosphere here.
But static charge is not so benign. It has ruined and continues to play havoc with any electronic equipment at Maitri. Computers have borne the brunt of the scourge. Many have been ruined beyond local repair and have to be sent back to India for repairs or for replacement. CDs, pendrives, music systems, DVD players, and floppy discs- nothing is spared. My laptop has not been spared either. Its internal speakers have gone phut sometime back. Scientific laboratories are the most high risk areas. Any damage to the computers there due to static charge could mean loss of valuable scientific data for the whole year- data for which the international scientific community waits for one year.
Extensive earthing has to be done to prevent static charge. There are grounded copper wires all over the areas where computers are present. One has to touch these wires and discharge oneself before touching a computer. Not once, but every time one touches a computer even in the same sitting.
A few of the telephone instruments here have been damaged recently. So the door of the communication room and the table on which the telephone instrument is kept has been earthed completely so that an individual entering the communication room is discharged as soon as he enters. I have a copper wire hanging in my room from the fire alarm cables on the roof. It is like a “ghanta”. I pull it every time I am about to touch my computer. I don’t allow anyone to touch my computer. There are lots of invaluable photographs and videos on it.
The cause of high incidence of static charge in Antarctica is not yet clear. Some attribute it to extremely low humidity and others to the earth’s magnetic field. Meanwhile, the destruction continues…..
Abhijeet,
ReplyDeleteDuring my stay at Maitri, I too experienced the same problem like everyonelse, and had made a blog entry which invited lot of comments. I am reproducing it for your benefit.
Static Electricity
The static current is a funny problem here. I don't remember if I ever wrote you people about it. Being near the pole, our body develops static current due to movements in closed areas, working in labs with equipments having magnets or electro-magnets, or wearing clothes containing synthetic fibres like nylon etc. The problem gets worse during winter when members are confined indoors most of the time. All the labs containing computers, communication equipments etc have a warning at the door to discharge oneself of charge before entering the lab by touching a copper wire hanging outside. In spite of that the display function of all the phones here with caller ID has been damaged. People avoid a touching or handshake with certain members who are known to carry more charge because of their working with charge generating equipments. It gives a shock to the other people which is audible at a distance; while one is wincing with that momentary shock all other burst into laughter. I too have a one or two pieces of garments that generate more charge than others; esp., my favourite front open black sweater. I am sure to get these shocks many times a day. So on days when I am wearing it, I keep on touching metallic surface periodically so as not to allow more charge to accumulate. I have to be careful when working with my laptop.