small ion

small ion

[′smȯl ′ī‚än] (meteorology) An atmospheric ion of the type that has the greatest mobility; and hence, collectively, it is the principal agent of atmospheric conduction; evidence indicates that each ion is a singly charged atmospheric molecule (or, rarely, an atom) about which a few other neutral molecules are held by the electrical attraction of the central ionized molecule; estimates of the number of satellite molecules range as high as 12. Also known as fast ion; light ion.