Open AccessFrequency distributions of some parameters of negative downward lightning flashes based on accurate‐stroke‐count studies
Author(s) -
Ballarotti Maurício G.,
Medeiros Claudia,
Saba Marcelo M. F.,
Schulz Wolfgang,
Pinto Osmar
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2011jd017135
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , flash (photography) , meteorology , environmental science , duration (music) , statistics , physics , mathematics , acoustics , optics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
This paper presents some parameters of negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning flashes in terms of frequency distribution. All data are based on so‐called “accurate‐stroke‐count studies” from different climatological regions in the world and were already published in the literature with the exception of our measurements. We used GPS synchronized data from two digital high‐speed cameras (at 1–8,000 frames/sec). The parameters considered in this study are: (1) continuing current duration, (2) time intervals between strokes, (3) number of strokes per flash and (4) total flash duration. The analysis includes Berger's data of Monte San Salvatore (Switzerland), which is the basis for lightning protection standards. The comparison suggests that despite of overall agreement of those parameters that some of them, currently used in protection standards, should be revised in order to be more realistic.