publication . Article . 1987

The propagation speed of a positive lightning return stroke

Name: The propagation speed of a positive lightning return stroke
Keywords: General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geophysics

Douglas M. Mach; Richard E. Orville; Vincent P. Idone; W. David Rust;

Open Access

Published: 01 Nov 1987 Journal: Geophysical Research Letters, volume 14, pages 1,150-1,153 (issn: 0094-8276,

Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Summary

Abstract

The first direct determination of the propagation speed of a lightning return stroke lowering positive charge to ground has been made. This stroke was the third of eight otherwise negative strokes in a triggered lightning flash initiated at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Two independent optical systems, one photographic and the other photoelectric, yielded common recordings for the third and fourth strokes; the respective two‐dimensional return stroke propagation speeds were 1.0 vs. 0.93 ×108 m/s for the positive (third) stroke and 1.0 vs. 1.0 ×108 m/s for the fourth stroke. Using fast electric‐field data, we estimated the positive stroke peak current to be ...

doi: 10.1029/gl014i011p01150

Subjects

Medical Subject Headings: cardiovascular diseases

free text keywords: General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geophysics, Velocity measurement, Stroke, medicine.disease, medicine, Peak current, Atmospheric electricity, Meteorology, Geology, Lightning

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