Methods and means of remote definition of clouds' electrical structure

Abstract

A novel method for studying atmospheric electricity for aviation applications is developed. In the absence of thunderstorm activity, as in the case of nimbostratus, for example, both active and passive radar methods do not detect the zones of volume electric charges. However, it is known that the majority of cases of a lightning blow into plane occurs just in such clouds, when the electrical charge of the plane itself initiates the discharge. The electrolocation method based on the inverse problem of the electrostatics is used to detect volume electric charges. The airborne weather radar data are used to detect the location of cloud cells. This approach allows to obtain operative prognostic information about areas of electrical activity by applying electric field strength measurements en-route of flight. The key problems are: 1)development of reliable electric field sensors used for measurements under extreme severe conditions; 2)development of methods for data interpretation by using of the space-time characteristics of electric field. A short description of the developed electric field strength sensor, which is based on a novel method for measuring physical quantities is given. The essence of the method is described. Convergence of the proposed procedure of calibration is presented and confirmed by computer simulation. Research that has been carried out, allows to propose the scheme, construction and functioning algorithm of the adaptive electric field strength sensor. This sensor can operate in a condition of high severity. The parameters of non-linear working characteristics may vary uncontrollably due to continuous and unpredictable influence of different disturbing effects and destabilizing factors. Simulation of the measuring algorithm shows that under the condition of a casual change of steepness and displacement of the working characteristic within 50% of the rating value, an accuracy 1% in the measurement of electric field strength is being reached with not more than 10 calibration iterations.