The Application of the Cholesky-Based Monte Carlo Method to Evaluate Lightning Channel Base Current

Abstract

An application of the Cholesky-based Monte Carlo method is introduced to generate the lightning characteristics for the statistical analysis of lightning. The method explains how to use this approach to generate the lightning base current characteristics close to the measured parameters of channel base current. Then for about 20 000 different channel base current characteristics generated by this method, the Heidler function parameters are calculated by the genetic algorithm. The obtained Heidler parameters are statistically analyzed. After that, the Cholesky decomposition of Heidler parameters is determined. In the statistical investigations of lightning, this matrix generally allows for the removal of the part of calculations related to the determination of Heidler parameters. The calculation time and the calculation burden are significantly reduced in statistical studies. The obtained results show the effectiveness of this method.