Atmospheric electric discharge into water

Results are presented from experimental studies of spark discharges excited between a needle electrode placed over the water surface and a plane electrode immersed in water. The electron density in the spark channels gliding over the water surface and the velocity of their radial propagation are determined. It is found that, when the discharge channel reaches the water, the conductivity of the water surface becomes anomalously high, which looks like a peculiar kind of transformation of a needle electrode over the water surface into a plane electrode adjacent to this surface.