Principles of Lightning Physics

183 Pages·2016·62.388 MB·English

Principles of Lightning Physics

Principles of Lightning Physics
Vladislav Mazur
National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
IOP Publishing, Bristol, UK
ªIOPPublishingLtd2016
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1152-6.
ISBN 978-0-7503-1152-6(ebook)
ISBN 978-0-7503-1153-3(print)
ISBN 978-0-7503-1154-0(mobi)
DOI 10.1088/978-0-7503-1152-6
Version:20161201
IOPExpandingPhysics
ISSN2053-2563(online)
ISSN2054-7315(print)
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Coverimage:SummerlightningstormnearTucson,Arizona,USA.Credit:KeithKent/Science
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To Marijo, my beloved wife,
without whose encouragement and support
this book would not have been possible

Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiv
Author biography xv
1 The components of lightning 1-1
1.1 Features of lightning plasma 1-1
1.2 Lightning is more than a spark 1-2
1.2.1 Corona glow 1-2
1.2.2 Corona streamers 1-3
1.2.3 Transition from corona streamers to a positive leader 1-5
1.2.4 Transition from corona streamers to a negative leader 1-6
1.3 Conditions for leader propagation 1-8
1.4 Lightning leaders in nature 1-12
References 1-15
2 Lightning leaders versus free-burning arcs 2-1
2.1 Similarities and differences 2-1
2.2 The E–I relationship, from the results of laboratory measurements and 2-2
the modeling of free-burning arcs
2.3 The E–I relationship and the luminosity of leader channels 2-7
References 2-9
3 Physical concepts of a lightning leader model 3-1
3.1 The space charge leader concept based on cloud charge collection 3-1
3.2 The bi-directional, uncharged leader concept based on induced charges 3-3
3.3 Comparing the outputs of the two leader models 3-5
References 3-8
4 Verifying the concept of the bidirectional leader 4-1
4.1 How studying lightning strikes to aircraft has helped to solve 4-1
the puzzle of lightning development
4.1.1 Lightning radar echo 4-2
4.2 How does an aircraft trigger lightning? 4-5
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PrinciplesofLightningPhysics
4.3 Environmental conditions that lead to aircraft-triggered lightning 4-9
4.3.1 Hypothesis of a natural lightning-triggering mechanism in 4-11
thunderstorms
References 4-13
5 Defining the types of lightning 5-1
5.1 The visible features of lightning flashes 5-1
5.2 Defining the types of lightning using the bidirectional, bipolar 5-7
leader concept
5.2.1 Intra-cloud flashes 5-7
5.2.2 Cloud-to-ground flashes 5-11
References 5-14
6 The electrostatic theory of lightning discharges 6-1
6.1 Cloud potential and induced charges of lightning 6-1
6.2 The relationship between the electric fields produced by leaders 6-2
and return strokes
6.3 The relationship between lightning processes and space charges in 6-4
thunderstorms
6.3.1 Thunderstorm model 6-4
6.3.2 Development of the cloud-to-ground leader 6-6
6.3.3 Return stroke 6-11
6.3.4 Electric field changes produced by CG flashes 6-12
6.3.5 Development of the intra-cloud leader 6-13
6.4 Applications and limitations of the electrostatic model 6-14
References 6-17
7 Lightning triggered by rockets with wire and by tall structures 7-1
7.1 The idea of artificially triggered lightning 7-1
7.2 Concept and features of the classic rocket-triggered lightning technique 7-2
7.2.1 Processes related to melting of the trailing wire 7-3
7.3 Concept and features of the altitude-triggered lightning technique 7-6
7.4 Conditions required for triggering lightning with rocket-and-wire 7-7
techniques
7.5 On leaders and return strokes in rocket-triggered lightning 7-8
7.6 Upward lightning triggered by tall ground structures 7-9
7.6.1 Conditions for upward lightning initiation 7-9
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PrinciplesofLightningPhysics
7.6.2 Understanding luminosity variations in the upward-lightning 7-12
channel
7.7 Features of positive and negative leaders determined from studies of 7-15
triggered lightning
References 7-18
8 Understanding current cutoff in lightning 8-1
8.1 Definition and manifestation of current cutoff in different 8-1
lightning events
8.2 The death of the leader in unbranched lightning channels 8-2
8.3 Current cutoff in branched leaders 8-3
8.3.1 The screening effect in single and branched channels 8-3
8.3.2 The role of branch-screening in current cutoff 8-4
8.4 Arc instability and current cutoff 8-8
References 8-9
9 The phenomenon of recoil leaders 9-1
9.1 The nature of recoil and dart leaders 9-1
9.2 The relationship between recoil leaders and M-events: cause 9-5
and effect
9.3 The electrostatic model of an M-event that produces an 9-9
M-component
9.3.1 The electrostatic model of a dart leader–return stroke 9-10
sequence in CG flashes
9.3.2 The electrostatic model of an M-event 9-12
9.4 The universal nature of M-events in lightning 9-14
References 9-15
10 The physical concept of recoil leader formation 10-1
10.1 The relationship between the internal electric field and current in 10-1
lightning leaders
10.2 Current cutoff prior to the occurrence of recoil leaders 10-2
10.3 The development of recoil leaders 10-3
10.4 A proposed conceptual model of recoil leader formation 10-5
10.4.1 Recoil leader formation and polarity asymmetry in 10-8
branched leaders
10.5 Conclusion 10-10
References 10-10
ix