Proposal of Simplified Method of Analysis of Charge Transfer Associated with Return Strokes

Abstract

Charge transfer is one of the most important parameters when one discusses the damage to the equipments on a power line due to the energy of the lightning. The amount of charge transfer associated with a lightning flash or individual strokes can be estimated by using the electric field change measured with a slow antenna. In this letter, the authors propose a simplified method of analysis of charge transfer associated with cloud-to-ground strokes along with estimation of the height of a charge in the point charge model. The height is evaluated by the product of the average speed of the downward propagating stepped leader and the time difference between the beginning of the preliminary breakdown and the onset of a return stroke.