Leader fields due to a lightning channel with an inclined upper section

Abstract

It is shown theoretically the dependence of the leader field on the angle of orientation with respect to a perfectly conducting horizontal plane of the uppermost part of the lightning leader. The results were able to discern significantly large differences in the static field variation of leader channels with the same length but a certain channel segment is oriented at different angles. The outcome of our calculations consistently explains the scatter of the total leader field observed in previous studies. Otherwise, one has to assume unrealistic charge source heights or unreasonable charge densities to calculate matching values for some of the total leader fields and total leader field to return stroke filed ratios, labeled as anomalous observations in the literature. In some cases, irrespective of the charge source height and the charge density, one cannot find a suitable fit with the straight channel model.

doi:10.4038/sljp.v2i0.178

Sri Lankan Journal of Physics, Vol.2 (2001) 31-40