Three-dimensional propagation characteristics of the upward connecting leaders in six negative tall-object flashes in Guangzhou

Gao, Yan; Lü, Weitao; Ma, Ying; Chen, Luwen; Zhang, Yang; Yan, Xu; Zhang, Yijun

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.06.008

Cited by 43 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The Tall-Object Lightning Observatory in Guangzhou (TOLOG) was established (Lu et al, 2013). To observe the 3-D propagation characteristics of the leaders in those natural lightning flashes striking tall structures, two observation stations were constructed since 2012 (Gao et al, 2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The distance between the main observation station and the sub-station is approximately 4.8 km. Using the 3-D reconstruction method presented by Gao et al (2014), the 3-D lightning channel is reconstructed from a high-speed image captured at the main station and an ordinary-speed image captured at the sub-station. Combining the high-speed images that contain the tips of the leaders and the reconstructed 3-D lightning channels, the 3-D propagation characteristics of the leaders are obtained.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, one of the six cases analyzed by Gao et al (2014) is selected for a more detailed analysis. This case includes observation data suitable for determining the 3-D and 2-D propagation characteristics for the UCL, the downward leader and the unconnected upward leader (UUL) during the attachment process prior to the first RS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lu et al (2013) presented the detailed 2-D propagation characteristics of the downward leader and UCL during the attachment process prior to the first return stroke (RS) in a tall-object lightning flash captured in 2011. Gao et al (2014) analyzed six tall-object lightning flashes captured in 2012 and focused on the 3-D and 2-D analysis of the characteristics of the UCL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Three-dimensional propagation characteristics of the leaders in the attachment process of a downward negative lightning flash

Lü

Gao

Chen

et al. 2015

Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Three-dimensional propagation characteristics of the leaders in the attachment process of a downward negative lightning flash

Lü

Gao

Chen

et al. 2015

Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics

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“…However, none of these studies investigated lightning behavior around grounded structures deployed at very high elevations above the ground surface. A recent study investigating upward leader development, using photographic evidence, indicates that extremely tall structures in the midst of more typical buildings face increased risk of lightning [33], and therefore, need still exists to study the behavior of lightning around elevated structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Modeling lightning strike behavior in the near field of elevated systems

Malinga

Niedzwecki

2015

J Eng Math

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The modeling of lightning strike behavior and estimation of the subsequent electric discharge is of great practical importance. In this study, a complete two-dimensional physics-based analytic formulation is presented for elevated grounded systems that can be envisioned to be contained within two non-concentric circular domains. The inner circle encompasses the body or system of interest, and the periphery of the outer circle addresses the cloud coverage. The potential field between the circular domains is modeled as the sum of two separate contributions. The first is formulated in terms of an eigen-function expansion involving simple radial functions and Legendre polynomials, while the second contribution is developed using two different approaches. The first approach utilizes an eigen-function expansion incorporating spherical Bessel functions and Legendre polynomials, while the second approach uses a Green's function expansion also involving orthogonal polynomial functions. Each of the contributions to the total potential field leads to linear systems of equations that are solved for the unknown series expansion coefficients. The accuracy of the potential field solution is investigated with regard to convergence, stability, and error compared with an exact solution. The potential field solution is then used as the basis to evaluate leader formation, as a function of elevation, extent of cloud coverage, and propagation angle of the downward leader. Regions of high risk to lightning strikes on the grounded structure are developed in terms of joint probability functions. The electric discharge is estimated using electric current and is shown to be in the range of presently available information.

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When does the lightning attachment process actually begin?

Tran

Rakov

2015

JGR Atmospheres

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High-speed video and electric field records of 43 first and 7 new-ground-termination subsequent strokes in negative lightning flashes, obtained at the Lightning Observatory in Gainesville, Florida, were examined. Eighteen (36%) of these strokes exhibited faintly luminous formations (FLFs) below the downward leader tip just prior to the return stroke. All the 18 FLFs were connected to the strike object on the ground, with 14 of them being also in contact with the downward leader tip. For 11 located events showing FLFs in contact with the downward leader tip, the FLF 2-D length ranged from 51 to 200 m and the time interval between the end of exposure of the FLF frame and the return stroke onset ranged from 42 to 106 μs. We inferred that the FLFs mostly consisted of relatively low conductivity streamers, based on the following observations and estimates. (a) The rates at which the 11 FLFs were replaced by channels capable of guiding return stroke waves ranged from 0.7 × 10 6 m/s to 2.2 × 10 6 m/s, which is comparable to leader speeds in virgin air (in the same records). (b) The overwhelming majority of downward leaders continued stepping while being connected to ground via FLFs. (c) The average electric field along FLFs is 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than expected for hot, leader-like channels. Since in all cases the FLF determined the strike point, we conclude that its inferred initiation up to a few hundreds of microseconds before the return stroke onset signified the beginning of the lightning attachment process.

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Three-dimensional propagation characteristics of the upward connecting leaders in six negative tall-object flashes in Guangzhou

Cited by 43 publications

References 11 publications

Three-dimensional propagation characteristics of the leaders in the attachment process of a downward negative lightning flash

Three-dimensional propagation characteristics of the leaders in the attachment process of a downward negative lightning flash

Modeling lightning strike behavior in the near field of elevated systems

When does the lightning attachment process actually begin?

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