"tom" wrote
t...
On 7/23/2010 4:23 PM, Jim Lux wrote:

If the ball is wet, especially with distinct droplets, then you can get
corona forming much earlier. The electrostatic forces tend to make the
droplets fly off.


Non-rhetorical question(s).

I must be missing something then. Why don't I see corona on the tips of
leaves at the tops of my trees? Trees are pretty conductive when hundreds
of kilovolts are involved.

You have missed that: "Physically, St. Elmo's fire is a bright blue or
violet glow, appearing like fire in some circumstances, from tall, sharply
pointed structures such as lightning rods, masts, spires and chimneys, and
on aircraft wings. St. Elmo's fire can also appear on leaves, grass, and
even at the tips of cattle horns.[3] Often accompanying the glow is a
distinct hissing or buzzing sound."

Or my antenna masts for that matter, 'cause they are grounded, too.

Your ground wire is broken. Check it.
S*