On the inversion of polarity of the electric field at very close range from a tower struck by lightning

Abstract

In this paper, we show that the electric field generated by a lightning return stroke to a tall structure can change polarity at very close distance range, typically at distances of about one tenth the height or so of the struck object. This change in the polarity seems to be a specific signature of the very close vertical electric field. Two different theoretical explanations of such an inversion of polarity are given, the first based on general field equations for a perfectly conducting ground and the second based on the equation derived by Baba and Rakov (2005a) for the case when the return stroke wavefront speed is assumed to be equal to the speed of light and the reflection coefficient at the top of the tall structure is zero. A simple equation is derived which provides an estimate of the critical distance below which such an inversion of polarity might occur. It is also shown that the inversion of polarity depends on the value of the reflection coefficient at the base of the tower and disappears for reflection coefficients close to 1. On the other hand, other parameters such as the return stroke speed, the reflection coefficient at the top of the strike object, and the adopted return stroke model seem not to have an impact on the inversion of polarity. The need of obtaining experimental data on electromagnetic fields at very close range to a tower struck by lightning is emphasized in order to confirm the theoretical finding.