Answer #1:

Because the atmosphere is not a perfect insulator, there is a small current between the electrosphere and the

Earth. Negative charge leaks from the Earth and rises to the electrosphere. This is called the fair weather

electric and it is about 2000 amps at any given moment. At this rate, the Earth's charge would dissipate in

less than an hour, but, as it turns out, lightning recharges the Earth's by delivering negative charge back to

the surface.