Simulation of the relations between the height of thunder cloud base and the electric field around the tip protrusion

Abstract

Whether the different heights of thunder cloud base will affect thunder strike on tip protrusion? In order to study the relations between heights of thunder cloud base and the space electric field around ground tip protrusion, the characteristics of atmospheric electric field under thunderstorm were analyzed by the use of atmospheric electric field data collected by atmospheric electric field monitor before, during and after thunderstorm. The relations between heights of thunder cloud base and the space electric field around ground tip protrusion were analyzed under two models: with and without downward leading space electric field. Finally, the existing formulation was applied to calculate the value of electric field around the tip protrusion to verify that the simulation was effective and appropriate. The results showed that the strength of space electric field around tip protrusion increased with the decrease of heights of thunder cloud base. The effectiveness was verified by the calculation results from field equation.