Investigation of Possible Role of Hydrometeor Arrays on Subsequent Stroke Initiation Using System of Artificial Thunderstorm Cells of Negative Polarity

摘要

Application of the system of two negatively charged artificial thunderstorm cells with a model hydrometeor array between them could help in the investigation of the problem of the subsequent lightning stroke initiation and propagation inside a thundercloud. The article presents the results of an experimental investigation of the influence of the large model hydrometeor arrays on the possibility of switching of upper negatively charged cell to a discharge channel between the bottom cell and the ground. It also compares the peculiarities of the first and subsequent return stroke formation in the systems “negative artificial cell - negative artificial cell - ground” in cases with and without the model hydrometeor array between the cells. Application of the obtained results to a natural thunderstorm including a possible role of the large hail arrays in the multi stroke lightning formation is discussed.