Simultaneous measurements of precipitation current, electric field at ground level and 44 m above, and rain rate have been performed during summer experiments in southwestern France. The total precipitation current density was measured with a new instrument consisting of an electrometer connected to a plane conductor surface shielded by a grounded grid. Thus several characteristics of the precipitation current below thunderstorms have been pointed out: (1) The precipitation current can have both polarities, and the polarity can change during the same event. However, it is more often positive, that is, negative raindrops are dominant. (2) The current density reaches 5 nA m-2 in absolute value. (3) The beginning of the detection of a precipitation current generally corresponds to a reverse of the surface electric field or a decrease of the field 44 m above ground. (4) During most of the charged rain periods we observe the mirror image relation between surface field and precipitation; that is, their polarities are opposite. (5) The precipitation seems to carry the charge of the cloud that was dominant in the creation of the field close to the ground before the rain. When this charge reaches the ground, the field decreases at each level and it reverses at the ground. (6) The precipitation current detected at the ground is low compared with that usually measured at cloud base. The Wilson capture across the charge layer above ground seems to be efficient by limiting the precipitation current density. So the total precipitation current at the ground evaluated from our data and for an average thunderstorm is weak; however, because of the Wilson capture, it is not possible to conclude that the charge transfer by precipitation between thundercloud and ground is not important.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union