Mechanism of Orientation and Parameters of Lightning in Context of Lightning Protection

Abstract

Details of the process of lightning formation and orientation of the downward leader required to solve applied problems in the field of lightning protection are considered. It is shown that it is necessary to take into account the mechanism of the bipolar leader formation in the thundercloud electric field, according to which the thunderstorm cell cannot be regarded as a conducting charged electrode, the potential carried by the downward leader channel is determined by the start point and path of the lightning, and the effect of the thunderstorm cell charge reveals itself to a much less degree. An algorithm is proposed for calculating the orientation height, charge per unit channel length, and attraction radius of lightning from the value of the return stroke current. It is stated that lightning current measurements currently used at tall structures cannot serve as a basis to estimate the frequency of dangerous lightning strikes to structures of ordinary height. A scheme of the field research of lightning is proposed that allows the required statistics of lightning currents to be accumulated for a foreseeable time period at admissible material costs. The need to study the mechanism of the competing development of counter discharges from ground-based electrodes is proven, and the relevant technique is offered.