Location and Characterization of In-Cloud Lightning Currents by Multiple Station VHF and Electric Field Measurements
Abstract
A network has been established that measures and records electric fields in a 600 Hz to 3.5 MHz 3dB bandwidth at five stations at Kennedy Space Center. Signals were recorded at the central station with a 20 MS/s digitizing system that operating on a 24 hour per day basis. Data has been obtained from both lightning and small discharges that do not fit the commonly accepted definition of lightning . These small discharges frequently precede the first cloud-to-ground flash in a storm and are the most significant finding in the research so far. They have considerable importance in the field of thunderstorm electrification in that they predominantly occur below the freezing level, at a mean height of about 3-4 km.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 14, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA247051
Entities
People
- Ewen M. Thomson
Organizations
- University of Florida