Latitude dependence of peak lightning return stroke current : A theoretical explanation

• The experimental data show that the peak currents of first and subsequent lightning return strokes increase with decreasing latitude. In this paper the reason for this dependence of current amplitude is explained using the fact that the height of the charge centers increases with decreasing latitude. The results obtained show that in tropical regions peak first and subsequent return stroke currents are located in the vicinity of 42 kA and 15 kA, respectively. This theoretical prediction is in agreement with available experimental data.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Lightning

Return stroke

Peak Current

Latitude

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)