The 3-dimensional numerical simulation of artificially altitude-triggered negative lightning

Abstract

A 3-dimensional numerical model for artificially altitude-triggered negative lightning is developed based on an analytic thunderstorm model and the Dielectric Breakdown Model (DBM). Two major parameters are concerned, they are the thundercloud electric field and the length of the nylon wire which isolates the triggering wire from the ground. A few groups of contrast numerical experiments are done to study their effects on the success rates of altitude-triggered lightning. It is found that the success rates of altitude-triggered lightning increase when the thundercloud electric field enhances or the length of the nylon wire increases. Another interesting phenomenon is that the upward positive leader is always initiated earlier than the downward negative leader in either case.