Lightning, the Science. Part 2: Current and Electromagnetics
Keywords:
lightning, first and subsequent strokes, lightning peak current, measurements of lightning electric and magnetic fields
Abstract
Lightning can be defined as a transient, high-current (typically tens of kA) electric discharge in air whose length is measured in km. As for any discharge in air, lightning channel is composed of ionized gas, that is, of plasma, whose peak temperature is typically 30,000 K, about five times higher than the temperature of the surface of the Sun. The global lightning flash rate is some tens to a hundred km per second. Lightning initiates many forest fires, and over 30% of all electric power line failures are lightning related. Each commercial aircraft is struck by lightning on average once a year. A lightning strike to an unprotected object or system can be catastrophic. In the first part [1] of the article, an overview of thunderclouds and their charge structure was given, and different types of lightning were described. The existing hypotheses of lightning initiation in thunderclouds were reviewed. In the second part of the article, current and electromagnetic signatures of lightning are characterized and the techniques to measure lightning electric and magnetic fields are discussed.
References
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2. Berger К. Methods and results of the lightning research on the Monte San Salvatore near Lugano in the years 1963-1971. – Bull. SEV 63, 1972, No. 24, pp. 1403–1422.
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9. Leteinturier C., Hamelin J. H., Eybert-Berard A. Submicrosecond characteristics of lightning return-stroke currents. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., 1991, vol. 33, pp. 351–357.
10. Lin Y.T., Uman M.A., Tiller J.A., Brantley R.D., Beasley W.H., Krider E.P., Weidman C.D. Characterization of light-ning return stroke electric and magnetic fields from simultaneous two station measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 1979, vol. 84, pp. 6307–6314.
11. Rakov V.A., Thottappillil R., Uman M.A. On the empirical formula of Willett et al. relating lightning return-stroke peak current and peak electric field. J. Geophys. Res., 1992, vol. 97, No. 11, pp. 527–533.
12. Willett J.C., Bailey J.C., Idone V.P., Eybert Berard A., Barret L. Submicrosecond intercomparison of radiation fields and currents in triggered lightning return strokes based on the transmission line model. J. Geophys. Res., 1989, vol. 94, No. 13, pp. 275–286.
13. Uman M.A., McLain D.K. Magnetic field of the lightning return stroke. J. Geophys. Res. 1969, vol. 74, pp. 6899–6910.
14. Rubinstein M., Bermúdez J.-L., Rakov V.A., Rachidi F., Hussein A. Compensation of the instrumental decay in measured lightning electric field waveforms. – IEEE Trans. on EMC, 2012, vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 685–688.
15. Baba Y., Rakov V.A. 2007. Electromagnetic fields at the top of a tall building associated with nearby lightning return strokes. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 632–643.
16. Uman M.A. The Lightning Discharge. Orlando (Fla): Academic Press, 1987, 391 p.
17. Rakov V.A. Fundamentals of Lightning, Cambridge University Press, 2016, 257 p.
#
1. Rakov V.A. Lightning, the Science. Part 1: Modern View. – Elektrichestvo, 2021, No. 5, pp. 4–16.
2. Berger К. Methods and results of the lightning research on the Monte San Salvatore near Lugano in the years 1963-1971. – Bull. SEV 63, 1972, No. 24, pp. 1403–1422.
3. Berger K., Anderson R. B., Kroninger H. Parameters of lightning flashes. – Electra, 1975, No. 41, pp. 23–37.
4. Anderson R.B., Eriksson A.J. Lightning parameters for engineering application. – Electra, 1980, vol. 69, pp. 65–102.
5. Takami, J., Okabe S. Observational results of lightning current on transmission towers. – IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, 2007, vol. 22, pp. 547–556.
6. Diendorfer G., Pichler H., Mair M. Some parameters of negative upward-initiated lightning to the Gaisberg tower (2000–2007). – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., 2009, vol. 51, pp. 443–452.
7. Schoene J., Uman M.A., Rakov V.A., et al. Characterization of return-stroke currents in rocket-triggered lightning. – Journal of Geophy-sical Research, 2009, vol.114, pp. D03106, doi:10.1029/2008JD009873.
8. Visacro S., Mesquita C.R., De Conti A., Silveira F.H. Updated statistics of lightning currents measured at Morro do Cachimbo station. Atmos. Res, 2012, vol. 117, pp. 55–63.
9. Leteinturier C., Hamelin J. H., Eybert-Berard A. Submicro-second characteristics of lightning return-stroke currents. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., 1991, vol. 33, pp. 351–357.
10. Lin Y.T., Uman M.A., Tiller J.A., Brantley R.D., Beasley W.H., Krider E.P., Weidman C.D. Characterization of lightning return stroke electric and magnetic fields from simultaneous two station measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 1979, vol. 84, pp. 6307–6314.
11. Rakov V.A., Thottappillil R., Uman M.A. On the empirical formula of Willett et al. relating lightning return-stroke peak current and peak electric field. J. Geophys. Res. , 1992, vol. 97, No. 11, pp. 527–533.
12. Willett J.C., Bailey J.C., Idone V.P., Eybert Berard A., Barret L. Submicrosecond intercomparison of radiation fields and currents in triggered lightning return strokes based on the transmission line model. J. Geophys. Res., 1989, vol. 94, No. 13, pp. 275–286.
13. Uman M.A., McLain D.K. Magnetic field of the lightning return stroke. J. Geophys. Res. 1969, vol. 74, pp. 6899–6910.
14. Rubinstein M., Bermúdez J.-L., Rakov V.A., Rachidi F., Hussein A. Compensation of the instrumental decay in measured lightning electric field waveforms. – IEEE Trans. on EMC, 2012, vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 685–688.
15. Baba Y., Rakov V.A. 2007. Electromagnetic fields at the top of a tall building associated with nearby lightning return strokes. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 632–643.
16. Uman M.A. The Lightning Discharge. Orlando (Fla): Academic Press, 1987, 391 p.
17. Rakov V.A. Fundamentals of Lightning, Cambridge University Press, 2016, 257 p.
2. Berger К. Methods and results of the lightning research on the Monte San Salvatore near Lugano in the years 1963-1971. – Bull. SEV 63, 1972, No. 24, pp. 1403–1422.
3. Berger K., Anderson R.B., Kroninger H. Parameters of lightning flashes. – Electra, 1975, No. 41, pp. 23–37.
4. Anderson R.B., Eriksson A.J. Lightning parameters for engineering application. – Electra, 1980, vol. 69, pp. 65–102.
5. Takami, J., Okabe S. Observational results of lightning current on transmission towers. – IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, 2007, vol. 22, pp. 547–556.
6. Diendorfer G., Pichler H., Mair M. Some parameters of negative upward-initiated lightning to the Gaisberg tower (2000–2007). – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., 2009, vol. 51, pp. 443–452.
7. Schoene J., Uman M.A., Rakov V.A., et al. Characterization of return-stroke currents in rocket-triggered lightning. – Journal of Geophysical Research, 2009, vol.114, pp. D03106, doi:10.1029/2008JD009873.
8. Visacro S., Mesquita C.R., De Conti A., Silveira F.H. Updated statistics of lightning currents measured at Morro do Cachimbo station. Atmos. Res, 2012, vol. 117, pp. 55–63.
9. Leteinturier C., Hamelin J. H., Eybert-Berard A. Submicrosecond characteristics of lightning return-stroke currents. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., 1991, vol. 33, pp. 351–357.
10. Lin Y.T., Uman M.A., Tiller J.A., Brantley R.D., Beasley W.H., Krider E.P., Weidman C.D. Characterization of light-ning return stroke electric and magnetic fields from simultaneous two station measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 1979, vol. 84, pp. 6307–6314.
11. Rakov V.A., Thottappillil R., Uman M.A. On the empirical formula of Willett et al. relating lightning return-stroke peak current and peak electric field. J. Geophys. Res., 1992, vol. 97, No. 11, pp. 527–533.
12. Willett J.C., Bailey J.C., Idone V.P., Eybert Berard A., Barret L. Submicrosecond intercomparison of radiation fields and currents in triggered lightning return strokes based on the transmission line model. J. Geophys. Res., 1989, vol. 94, No. 13, pp. 275–286.
13. Uman M.A., McLain D.K. Magnetic field of the lightning return stroke. J. Geophys. Res. 1969, vol. 74, pp. 6899–6910.
14. Rubinstein M., Bermúdez J.-L., Rakov V.A., Rachidi F., Hussein A. Compensation of the instrumental decay in measured lightning electric field waveforms. – IEEE Trans. on EMC, 2012, vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 685–688.
15. Baba Y., Rakov V.A. 2007. Electromagnetic fields at the top of a tall building associated with nearby lightning return strokes. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 632–643.
16. Uman M.A. The Lightning Discharge. Orlando (Fla): Academic Press, 1987, 391 p.
17. Rakov V.A. Fundamentals of Lightning, Cambridge University Press, 2016, 257 p.
#
1. Rakov V.A. Lightning, the Science. Part 1: Modern View. – Elektrichestvo, 2021, No. 5, pp. 4–16.
2. Berger К. Methods and results of the lightning research on the Monte San Salvatore near Lugano in the years 1963-1971. – Bull. SEV 63, 1972, No. 24, pp. 1403–1422.
3. Berger K., Anderson R. B., Kroninger H. Parameters of lightning flashes. – Electra, 1975, No. 41, pp. 23–37.
4. Anderson R.B., Eriksson A.J. Lightning parameters for engineering application. – Electra, 1980, vol. 69, pp. 65–102.
5. Takami, J., Okabe S. Observational results of lightning current on transmission towers. – IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, 2007, vol. 22, pp. 547–556.
6. Diendorfer G., Pichler H., Mair M. Some parameters of negative upward-initiated lightning to the Gaisberg tower (2000–2007). – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., 2009, vol. 51, pp. 443–452.
7. Schoene J., Uman M.A., Rakov V.A., et al. Characterization of return-stroke currents in rocket-triggered lightning. – Journal of Geophy-sical Research, 2009, vol.114, pp. D03106, doi:10.1029/2008JD009873.
8. Visacro S., Mesquita C.R., De Conti A., Silveira F.H. Updated statistics of lightning currents measured at Morro do Cachimbo station. Atmos. Res, 2012, vol. 117, pp. 55–63.
9. Leteinturier C., Hamelin J. H., Eybert-Berard A. Submicro-second characteristics of lightning return-stroke currents. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., 1991, vol. 33, pp. 351–357.
10. Lin Y.T., Uman M.A., Tiller J.A., Brantley R.D., Beasley W.H., Krider E.P., Weidman C.D. Characterization of lightning return stroke electric and magnetic fields from simultaneous two station measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 1979, vol. 84, pp. 6307–6314.
11. Rakov V.A., Thottappillil R., Uman M.A. On the empirical formula of Willett et al. relating lightning return-stroke peak current and peak electric field. J. Geophys. Res. , 1992, vol. 97, No. 11, pp. 527–533.
12. Willett J.C., Bailey J.C., Idone V.P., Eybert Berard A., Barret L. Submicrosecond intercomparison of radiation fields and currents in triggered lightning return strokes based on the transmission line model. J. Geophys. Res., 1989, vol. 94, No. 13, pp. 275–286.
13. Uman M.A., McLain D.K. Magnetic field of the lightning return stroke. J. Geophys. Res. 1969, vol. 74, pp. 6899–6910.
14. Rubinstein M., Bermúdez J.-L., Rakov V.A., Rachidi F., Hussein A. Compensation of the instrumental decay in measured lightning electric field waveforms. – IEEE Trans. on EMC, 2012, vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 685–688.
15. Baba Y., Rakov V.A. 2007. Electromagnetic fields at the top of a tall building associated with nearby lightning return strokes. – IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat., vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 632–643.
16. Uman M.A. The Lightning Discharge. Orlando (Fla): Academic Press, 1987, 391 p.
17. Rakov V.A. Fundamentals of Lightning, Cambridge University Press, 2016, 257 p.
