Radar echoes associated with lightning

Abstract

Radar echoes believed to originate from lightning discharges have been observed both when the radar beam is directed into a thunderstorm overhead, and when the beam is set on to a distant storm. In the case of a thunderstorm overhead the echoes have been photographed and are analysed in terms of the individual strokes comprising a lightning discharge, with special reference to the junction—streamer process. It is suggested that the echoes have their origin in ionised portions of the electric charge in the cloud. In the case of distant storms the echoes are described from visual observation.