Lightning: Principles, Instruments and Applications

by Betz, Hans Dieter; Schumann, Ulrich; Laroche, Pierre

• ISBN13: 9781402090783
• ISBN10: 1402090781
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-01-03
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Lightning represents a natural phenomenon of substantial interest. Due to its complex nature, research continues in many countries and reveals amazing results. Lightning is actively observed because of its relevance to Earth climate and air composition in addition to the classical aspects of related human fatalities and damage to forests, buildings, power lines, aircraft, structures and electronic devices. In this volume, the most important contemporary questions on lightning are addressed and analyzed under many experimental and theoretical aspects. Lightning detection techniques using ground-based and space-borne methods are described, along with network engineering and statistical analysis. Contributions detail research on atmospheric electricity, cloud physics, lightning physics, modeling of electrical storms and middle atmospheric events. Special phenomena such as triggered lightning and sprite observations are examined. Lightning-induced nitrogen oxides and their effects on atmospheric chemistry and climate are discussed. Each topic is presented by international experts in the field. Topics include:* air chemistry* convective storms* infrasound from lightning* lightning and climate change* lightning and precipitation* lightning and radiation* lightning and supercells* lightning and thunderstorms* lightning detection* lightning from space* lighting protection* lightning return strokes* observations and interpretations* spatial distribution and frequency* triggered lightning* weather extremes

Author Biography

Hans D. Betz received his PhD in Physics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He performed research and teaching at the Physics Department of MIT at Boston, USA, thereafter at the Physics Department of the Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich. Major fields of research covered laser, atomic and nuclear physics, and atmospheric electricity.

Table of Contents

Present Understanding of the Lightning Return Stroke	p. 1
Triggered Lightning	p. 23
Electric Field and Charge Structure in Lightning-Producing Clouds	p. 57
Characteristics of Lightning in Supercells	p. 83
Linet - An International VLF/Lf Lightning Detection Network in Europe	p. 115
Lampinet - Lightning Detection in Italy	p. 141
Lightning Detection in Spain: The Particular Case of Catalonia	p. 161
Spatial Distribution and Frequency of Thunderstorms and Lightning in Australia	p. 187
Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Observations in Brazil	p. 209
Observation and Interpretation of Lightning Flashes with Electromagnetic Lightning Mapper	p. 231
Nowcasting of Thunderstorms Using VHF Measurements	p. 253
Optical Detection of Lightning from Space	p. 271
Space- and Ground-Based Studies of Lightning Signatures	p. 287
Lightning Measurements from Satellites and Significance for Storms in the Mediterranean	p. 309
Energetic Radiation and Lightning	p. 331
Schumann Resonance Signatures of Global Lightning Activity	p. 347
The Meteorological and Electrical Structure of TLE-Producing Convective Storms	p. 387
Infrasound from Lightning and Sprites	p. 417
Lightning in the Mediterranean in Relation with Cloud Microphysical Parameters	p. 433
Lightning and Precipitation	p. 447
Comparative Analysis of Flash and Radar Characteristics of Thunderstorm Cells	p. 465
Lightning Characteristics of Extreme Weather Events	p. 487
Flash Cells in Thunderstorms	p. 509
Thunderstorms, Lightning and Climate Change	p. 521
Impact of Lightning on Air Chemistry and Climate	p. 537
Lightning and NOx Production in Global Models	p. 551
Lightning Protection of Structures	p. 573
Color Plate Section	p. 593
Index	p. 633
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.