Modeling the electrical energy discharged by lightning flashes using capacitors for application with lightning datasets

Abstract This study employed a parallel plate capacitor model by which the electrostatic energy of lightning flashes could be estimated considering only their physical dimensions and breakdown electric fields in two simulated storms. The has previously been used to approximate total stormelectrostatic but is modified here use geometry individual mimic local charge configuration where were initiated. discharged may then diagnosed without context storm’s entire structure. was evaluated using from storms modeled National Severe Storms Laboratory’s Collaborative Model for Multi-scale Atmospheric Simulation (COMMAS). Initial estimates followed temporal evolution flash discharge COMMAS each storm demonstrated need account an adjustment factor represent fraction dissipates, as this assumes pre-flash flash. Individual values obtained simply ratio energy. Median selected populations storm, range = 0.019−0.021. Application aligned magnitudes those previous studies. Therefore, within , application observed datasets suggested.