On the mechanisms that lead to multiple ground contacts in lightning

• Grant number: 13/18785-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2014
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Osmar Pinto Junior
• Grantee: Leandro Zanella de Souza Campos
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/01838-0 - On the mechanisms that lead to current cutoff and multiple ground contacts in lightning, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The present document consists of a doctoral thesis proposal that aims at analyzing two main questions: how does the current cutoff takes place in lightning (particularly in the context of the bidirectional leader model); and what is the nature of lightning flashes that create multiple ground terminations. The former analysis will be based primarily in data provided by a network of slow electric field sensors and three-dimensional VHF mapping stations (Lightning Mapping Array, LMA) installed in the vicinity of a wind farm. A small number of events will be selected for detailed case studies that will be also used to evaluate different current cutoff models that exist in the literature. The latter analysis will be developed based on data provided by a VLF/LF lightning location system for a much larger number of events. From that dataset the effect of topography and complex terrain features over the occurrence of multiple ground contact flashes will be analyzed. A detailed work plan is presented, with the objective of finishing the proposal activities near the end of the scholarship timespan.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ANTUNES, L. S.; SARAIVA, A. C. V.; PINTO, JR., O.; ALVES, J.; CAMPOS, L. Z. S.; LUZ, E. S. A. M.; MEDEIROS, C.; BUZATO, T. S.. Day-to-day differences in the characterization of lightning observed by multiple high-speed cameras. Electric Power Systems Research, v. 118, n. SI, p. 93-100, JAN 2015. (13/18785-4, 10/01742-2, 08/56711-4)

ANTUNES, L. S.; SARAIVA, A. C. V.; PINTO, O., JR.; ALVES, J.; CAMPOS, L. Z. S.; LUZ, E. S. A. M.; MEDEIROS, C.; BUZATO, T. S.. Day-to-day differences in the characterization of lightning observed by multiple high-speed cameras. Electric Power Systems Research, v. 118, p. 8-pg., 2015-01-01. (10/01742-2, 08/56711-4, 13/18785-4)