A self-consistent two-dimensional model is proposed to account for the transient mesospheric nighttime optical emissions associated to possible intracloud (IC) lightning occurring in the Venusian troposphere. The model calculates the mesospheric (between 75 km and 120 km in altitude) quasi-elestrostatic electric field and electron density produced in response to IC lightning activity located be...

Thunderstorms are convective systems characterised by the occurrence of lightning. Lightning and thunderstorm activity has been increasingly studied in recent years in relation to the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and various other large-scale modes of atmospheric and oceanic variability. Large-scale modes of variability can sometimes be predictable several months in advance, suggesting p...

Wind turbine blades being struck by lightning is one of the most urgent problems facing wind farms. In order to reduce the probability of lightning accidents on wind farms, this paper presents a new electro-geometric model for multiple turbines. In this new model, based on the physical model of lightning leader development, the striking distance range of the blade tip receptor is calculated, ta...

For about a century, studies concerning summer thunderstorms in the middle latitude zone have elucidated data on both their meteorological and electrical features. By contrast, winter thunderstorms have been studied only for the last few decades. For both reasons of scientific interest and the practical purpose of preventing serious damage by winter thunderbolts to aircrafts and electric power ...

Airships are necessarily exposed to the atmospheric electrical environment, which includes electric fields, electrostatic charges, and lightning. Protection from hazards presented by these environments is necessary. One of the main issues is protection of the envelope, which is usually filled with helium. Helium poses special problems in this regard, even though it is an inert gas, because elec...

Hettiarachchi, P. 2018. Measurements of X-Ray Emission from Laboratory Sparks and Upward Initiated Lightning. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 1618. 58 pp. Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. ISBN 978-91-513-0204-1. In 1925 Nobel laureate R. C. Wilson predicted that high electric fields of thunderstorms could accelerate ele...

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has traditionally utilized cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning for a variety of purposes but recently intra-cloud (IC) flash data as part of total (CG + IC) lightning has been made available. To further explore characteristics of considering both CG and IC flashes in an operational setting, a systematic evaluation and comparison of the Vaiasala’s National Lightning ...

An intrinsic optical-fiber sensor based on Faraday Effect is developed that is highly suitable for measuring lightning current on aircraft, towers and complex structures. Originally developed specifically for aircraft installations, it is light-weight, non-conducting, structure conforming, and is immune to electromagnetic interference, hysteresis and saturation. It can measure total current dow...

Background: Lightning injury is a global public health issue. Low and middle-income countries in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world are most affected by lightning. Bangladesh is one of the countries at particular risk, with a high number of devastating lightning injuries in the past years, causing high mortality and morbidity. The exact magnitude of the problem is still unknown a...

The phenomenon of ball lightning still remains one of the greatest mysteries in the field of the plasma science and electromagnetism. Despite enormous contemporary advancements into the micro-world – the structure of elementary particles, nuclei, atoms, and the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe, the natural phenomenon of ball lightning, which literally appears right in front of o...