Lightning mapping interferometer observations on lightning discharge

摘要

The temporal and spatial development characteristics of a rocket-triggered lightning and a nature lightning flash with multiple-ground terminations are discussed, using two-dimensional lightning radiation sources mapping result based on short-baseline time-difference of arrival (TDOA) technology along with simultaneous observations of high-speed camera images and fast/slow electric field changes. The upward positive leader of the rocket-triggered lightning was mapped immediately from the tip of the metal wire, developing at a speed of about 10⁴ m/s without branches. Two multiple termination strokes (MTSs) were produced by two different branches of the preliminary breakdown process inside the cloud, and each MTS showed two different ground terminations induced by two leader branches. The chaotic pulse trains (CPTs) only occurred in the dart leader stage which propagated with a speed in an order of 10⁷ m/s, accompanying strong and continuous VHF radiations.