atmospherics
(ætməsˈfɛrɪks)
[pl. of atmospheric a. used as n.]
Atmospheric disturbances of electrical origin causing interference with communication in wireless telegraphy, television, etc. Also occas. without final -s.
| 1905 A. Y. Forrest in J. Erskine-Murray Handbk. Wireless Telegr. (1907) x. 181 Upon changing over to the Fessenden interference preventer, the terrific atmospheric was cut down to such an extent that I was enabled to receive the report. 1913 Year-bk. Wireless Telegr. 334 No signal nor atmospheric can put it out of action. 1915 Wireless World Apr. 55/1 To protect the condenser from strong ‘atmospherics’, a spark gap should be connected to the two plates of the condenser. 1919 R. Stanley Text-bk. Wireless Telegr. I. 173 Irregular noises are produced in the receiver telephones which seriously interfere with the reception of the regular signals; they are due to ‘Atmospherics’, or ‘strays’, or Xs. 1934 Discovery Mar. 73/2 The Air Ministry chose this wavelength because it is only in this region that uninterrupted communication, free from all possibility of interference and atmospherics can be depended upon at all times. 1947 Crowther & Whiddington Sci. at War i. 15 The atmospheric is a very brief phenomenon. 1947 Sci. News IV. 58 It is an accepted fact that ‘atmospherics’ are produced also by a radiation which comes to us direct from the centre of the Galaxy. |