Electric Field During Upward Connecting Leader Initiation in Negative Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Measured at a 50-m Distance

Abstract

Original results of close electric field at ground upon the positive upward connecting leader initiation in nine negative cloud-to-ground lightning strikes to the tower of Morro do Cachimbo Station are reported. The geometric mean and standard deviation of the E-field measured 50 m away from the tower were found to be 64.2 and 4.8 kV/m. These parameters change to 63 and 8.4 kV/m, when only the E-field variation resulting from the approach of the negative leader is considered.