On the Measurement of Lightning Horizontal Electric Fields

Abstract

This paper analyses the inherent difficulties in measuring the horizontal electric field from lightning and proposes some solutions to mitigate the contamination effect of the overwhelming vertical electric field. The analysis is carried out with a set of time-domain equations for the calculation of the electromagnetic fields from lightning. As these equations are scattered in several publications, in this paper they are compiled and presented in a harmonized form. Moreover, one new expression for the vertical electric field slightly below the ground surface is presented. It is shown that the horizontal electric field at the surface of lossy ground can be measured with minimum disturbance caused by the vertical electric field if the field sensor is placed slightly below the ground surface. This paper also shows that the horizontal electric field above the ground surface could be measured with the help of a pair of field sensors conveniently arranged so that the influence of the vertical electric field on the measurement is cancelled.