Lightning flashes at electric power system towers identified as Recurrent Lightning Spots observed by ground and space-based systems

Abstract

This study integrates space-based optical detections with ground-based measurements of lightning flashes on electric power system towers forming Recurrent Lightning Spots (RLS). We found that the lightning-tall tower interaction was related to downward leaders from the thunderstorm charge regions, with no upward flashes recorded. Likewise, cloud-to-ground (CG) strokes in RLSs associated with fast downward leaders exhibit the highest magnitude currents. Our findings suggest that thunderstorms' lower positive charge regions may contribute to increased lightning activity at RLS and revealed a correlation between lightning strokes in RLS with high peak currents and elevated values of integrated optical energy. We identified that the leader's propagation altitude and type and the VHF power emitted by lightning leaders are influential factors in detecting CG strokes from space

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (published version)