Attachment process in subsequent strokes and residual channel luminosity between strokes of natural lightning

作者：Tran M D^*; Rakov V A

来源：JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, 2015, 120(23).

DOI：10.1002/2015JD024032

We examined high-speed video and electric field records of 23 subsequent strokes following the previous stroke channel in three natural negative lightning flashes, which were obtained at the Lightning Observatory in Gainesville (LOG), Florida. Five strokes exhibited faintly luminous formations (FLFs) occurring in a single, pre-return-stroke frame and ranging from 130 to 908 m in length between the lower end of downward leader and the prospective strike point. The FLFs were inferred to be not streamers (as in first strokes) but manifestations of an increase in conduction current in the defunct channel between the leader and ground in response to the increasing electric field produced by the descending leader. Further, in eight strokes, we observed residual channel luminosity persisting over many frames (for 4.7 to 18 ms), through the pre-return-stroke frame. The residual luminosity was apparently associated with a stronger channel heating and a larger channel radius (and hence a lower temperature decay rate), both associated with the relatively long preceding continuing current. Presence of either FLF or residual channel luminosity did not appear to significantly influence the mode and velocity of propagation of the descending leader.

• 出版日期2015-12-16