The Spontaneous Nature of Lightning Initiation Revealed

Sterpka C, Dwyer J, Liu N, Hare BM, Scholten O, Buitink S, Veen St, Nelles A (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Geophysical Research Letters American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Book Volume: 48

Article Number: e2021GL095511

Journal Issue: 23

DOI: 10.1029/2021GL095511

Abstract

Here, we present new radio interferometer beamforming observations of lightning initiation using data from the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR). We show that the first lightning source in the flash increases exponentially in intensity by two orders of magnitude in 15 μs, while propagating 88 m away from the initiation location at a constant speed of 4.8 ± 0.1 × 106 m/s. A second source replaces the first source at the initiation location, and subsequent propagation of the lightning leader follows. We interpret the first source to be a rapidly propagating and intensifying positive streamer discharge that subsequently produces a hot leader channel near the initiation point. How lightning initiates is one of the greatest unsolved problems in the atmospheric sciences, and these results shed light on this longstanding mystery.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anna Nelles Professur für Experimentelle Astroteilchenphysik, insbesondere Radionachweis von Neutrinos

Involved external institutions

University of New Hampshire US United States (USA) (US) Kapteyn Astronomical Institute NL Netherlands (NL) Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL) Astron NL Netherlands (NL)

How to cite

APA:

Sterpka, C., Dwyer, J., Liu, N., Hare, B.M., Scholten, O., Buitink, S.,... Nelles, A. (2021). The Spontaneous Nature of Lightning Initiation Revealed. Geophysical Research Letters, 48(23). https://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095511

MLA:

Sterpka, C., et al. "The Spontaneous Nature of Lightning Initiation Revealed." Geophysical Research Letters 48.23 (2021).

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