Experimental Studies of Thunderstorm Electrification.
Abstract
Airborne electric field sensing and computing systems have been developed and flown on C-130, F-100F, RF4C, and U-2 aircraft for studies of shower, cloud, and thunderstorm charge centers. Examples are given of the proper separation of field components and aircraft charge during thunderstorm penetrations and during direct lightning strikes to the test aircraft. Techniques have been employed for roll compensation of the aircraft-fixed field components so that real-time vector displays indicating the centroid of near-by charge concentrations are available for use in avoidance of probable lightning areas, or for use in selecting them to maximize the probability of a strike to test aircraft during lightning-aircraft interaction studies. The development of the storm electrical structure is directly related to details of the cloud water and ice distribution linked through the thermal and draft structure in the storm. Major features of the internal electrical pattern are often seen in data taken above, alongside, or at the surface. However, in accordance with electrostatic field theory, many of the fine structural details found within the storm are suppressed outside. The major vertical component field pattern is found to be one that could be produced by simple tilted dipolar charge structures. Depending on the physical conditions in different regions of the storm, the upper excess charge of the dipole may be either positive as generally reported from surface observations of the field, or it may be negative, as found in a number of the U-2 storm overflights accomplished in this project. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 22, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA032374
Entities
People
- Donald R. Fitzgerald
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory