AE007
Physics of Streamers, Leaders, and the Lightning Discharge
Session ID#: 247554
Session Description:
Lightning is comprised of a variety of processes over a multitude of scales including the initial breakdown stage, fast streamer-based breakdown, leader steps, streamer zones, space stems and space leaders, needles, recoil leaders, return strokes, and M components. Lightning channels promote energy exchange between plasma and surrounding environment generating a plethora of impacts in the atmosphere and to society. In recent years, substantial instrumentation advances have been made in optical, radio-frequency, and energetic radiation imaging of the lightning channels' initiation, propagation, and attachment to ground structures, as well as the return stroke and the subsequent processes taking place inside its decaying channels. Additionally, during the next decade the field should see an explosive growth in the development and use of computational models of lightning and its multi-spectral emissions. We seek abstracts on natural and laboratory observations, modeling, and theoretical efforts dedicated to advancing our community’s understanding of lightning physics.
Index Terms:
0654 Plasmas [ELECTROMAGNETICS]
1952 Modeling [INFORMATICS]
3304 Atmospheric electricity [ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES]
3324 Lightning [ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES]
Primary Convener: Caitano L. da Silva, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Laboratory, Socorro, NM, United States
Conveners: Julia Tilles, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, United States and Adonis Leal, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, NM, United States
Recent advances in experimental modeling of electrostatic breakdown (1865093)
Jeremy A Riousset1, Jared P Nelson2, Seth Gerow2, Joshua Mendez Harper3 and Josef Dufek4, (1)Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Department of Physical Sciences, Daytona Beach, FL, United States, (2)Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Physical Sciences, Daytona Beach, United States, (3)Portland State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Portland, OR, United States, (4)University of Oregon, Department of Earth Sciences, Eugene, OR, United States
Comparison of compact intracloud discharges (CIDs) occurring above and below the main positive charge region (1866271)
Si Chen1, Vladimir A Rakov2, Yanan Zhu3 and Ziqin Ding1, (1)University of Florida, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ft Walton Beach, FL, United States, (2)University of Florida, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Gainesville, United States, (3)Earth Networks Inc., Germantown, United States
Signatures of a Negative Cloud-to-Ground First Stroke with Three Ground-Termination Points (1869128)
Dylan Goldberg1, Amitabh Nag2, Kenneth L Cummins1, Austin Tyler Brower1, Alex Tempert1, Mathieu N. Plaisir3 and Hamid K Rassoul4, (1)Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Melbourne, United States, (2)Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States, (3)Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Melbourne, FL, United States, (4)Florida Inst Tech, Department of Aerospace Physics and Space Science, Melbourne, United States
Lightning leader/streamer dynamics and unexpected channel fragmentation imaged in UV range (1869261)
Ziqin Ding1, Vladimir A Rakov2, Si Chen1, Siyuan Pan1, Kang Yang2, Yanan Zhu3 and Istvan Kereszy2, (1)University of Florida, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ft Walton Beach, FL, United States, (2)University of Florida, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Gainesville, United States, (3)Earth Networks Inc., Germantown, United States
Evolution of First-Stroke Upward Connecting Leader Line Charge Density in Downward Negative Cloud-to-Ground Natural Lightning Flashes (1870787)
Mathieu N. Plaisir1, Amitabh Nag2, Kenneth L Cummins3, Dylan Goldberg3, Christopher J Biagi4, Robert G Brown5 and Hamid K Rassoul6, (1)Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Melbourne, FL, United States, (2)Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States, (3)Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Melbourne, United States, (4)NASA Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, United States, (5)University of Central Florida, Orlando, United States, (6)Florida Inst Tech, Department of Aerospace Physics and Space Science, Melbourne, United States
Relationship between channel-base current and luminosity for natural negative cloud-to-ground lightning (1878880)
Megan Mark1, Amitabh Nag2, Kenneth L Cummins1, Mathieu N. Plaisir3, Dylan Goldberg1 and Hamid K Rassoul1, (1)Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Melbourne, United States, (2)Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States, (3)Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Melbourne, FL, United States
Measuring Streamer Producing Thundercloud Electric Fields Using Radio Observations of Narrow Bipolar Events (1882677)
Zaid Pervez, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, University Park, United States, Reza Janalizadeh, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, United States and Victor P Pasko, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, University Park, PA, United States
A Comparative Study of Leader Initiation Sequence and Evolution Mechanisms in Positive and Negative Altitude-Triggered Lightning (1887831)
Ruiling Chen1, Xiushu Qie2, Rubin Jiang3, Zhuling Sun2, Hongbo Zhang2, Mingyuan Liu3 and Zhimin Xia4, (1)University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, (2)Insititute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, (3)Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, (4)Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, China
Observations on the Propagation Characteristics of Positive Leaders in Natural and Rocket-Triggered Lightning (1890109)
Ziyi Wang1, Gaopeng Lu1, Yanfeng Fan2, Rubin Jiang3, Hongbo Zhang4 and Xiushu Qie4, (1)School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, (2)State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & CMA Key Laboratory of Lightning, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China, (3)Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, (4)Insititute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Continental-scale Lightning Observations at High Frequency (1890246)
Yunjiao Pu1,2, Steven A Cummer3 and Yongze Jia2, (1)Nanjing University, Nanjing, China, (2)Duke University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Durham, NC, United States, (3)Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Durham, United States
High Resolution Observations of the Positive Initiation Event in Several Lightning Flashes (1895953)
Olaf Scholten1,2, Joseph R Dwyer3, Steve Cummer4, Brian Hare5,6, Ningyu Liu7, Marten Lourens6, Christopher Francis Francis Sterpka6, Paulina Turekova5,6, S. ter Veen6 and Wu Bin8, (1)Retired, Washington, DC, United States, (2)University of Groningen, Kapteyn Institute, Groningen, Netherlands, (3)University of New Hampshire, Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Space Science Center, Durham, NH, United States, (4)Duke University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Durham, United States, (5)University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, (6)Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, Dwingeloo, Netherlands, (7)University of New Hampshire, Department of Physics and Space Science Center, Durham, United States, (8)Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China
Modeling Optical Emission from Lightning (1896587)
Dustin Fisher1, Nicki Bennett2, Matthew Hopkins2, Sonal Patel2, Lydia Wermer1 and Michael Peterson3, (1)Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, United States, (2)Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, United States, (3)Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, United States
Observation of a Downward Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flash During the Dart-Leader Phase of a Return Stroke. (1899099)
Rasha Abbasi, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States, Ny Kieu, Loyola University Chicago, Physics, Chicago, IL, United States, Davide Mazzucco, Loyola University Chicago, Physics Department, Chicago, United States, Marcelo M Saba, INPE National Institute for Space Research, S. Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, Ivan Toucedo Cruz, INPE National Institute for Space Research, Pontes Gestal, Brazil, Diego Rhamon da Silva, INPE National Institute for Space Research, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, Paul R Krehbiel, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, United States, Mark A Stanley, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Socorro, NM, United States, William Rison, New Mexico Inst Mining & Tech, Socorro, NM, United States, Dan Rodeheffer, New Mexico Tech, Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Socorro, NM, United States and For the Telescope Array lightning collaboration.
Modeling of continuing current and related M-components waveforms (1908114)
Petr Kaspar1, Ivana Kolmasova1, Ondrej Santolik1, Pavel Spurny2 and Jiri Borovicka2, (1)Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic, (2)Astronomical Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ondrejov, Czech Republic
GPU-based streamer simulation with ASTRAPÉ (1912861)
Elloïse Fangel-Lloyd1, Pierre Gourbin2, Sasa Dujko3, Mathias Gammelmark4, Sven Karlsson4, Angel Ricardo Jara Jimenez5 and Christoph Koehn6, (1)Technical University of Denmark, DTU Space, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, (2)Technical University of Denmark, DTU Space, Lyngby, Denmark, (3)University of Belgrade, Institute of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia, (4)Technical University of Denmark, DTU Compute, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, (5)Danish Meteorological Institute, København Ø, Denmark, (6)Technical University of Denmark, DTU Space, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
Current Characteristics Above Strike Point for Lightning Flashes on the Canton Tower Occurring Below Its Top (1915771)
Prof. Weitao Lyu, PhD1,2, Lyuwen Chen3, Ying Ma1, Qi Qi1 and Bin Wu1, (1)State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather Meteorological Science and Technology & CMA Key Laboratory of Lightning, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China, (2)Nanjing Innovation Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences – Jiangsu Meteorological Service, Nanjing, China, (3)Guangzhou Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration, GBA Academy of Meteorological Research, Guangzhou, China
A study of UV luminosity versus time variations at different heights along the fragmented lightning channel (1921126)
Siyuan Pan1, Ziqin Ding1, Vladimir A Rakov2, Si Chen1, Yanan Zhu3 and Istvan Kereszy2, (1)University of Florida, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ft Walton Beach, FL, United States, (2)University of Florida, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Gainesville, United States, (3)Earth Networks Inc., Germantown, United States
Response of Lightning Rods to Rocket-Triggered Lightning (1921205)
Chloe Avitia1, Adonis Leal2, Richard Sonnenfeld1, Caitano L. da Silva3, Graydon D Aulich1, Tobler Abbey1, Menolly Benedict1 and Broden Jepson-LaTurner1, (1)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, United States, (2)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, NM, United States, (3)New Mexico Tech, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, United States
Early Results from 2025 Lightning Triggering Program at Langmuir Laboratory (1922776)
Richard Sonnenfeld1, Adonis Leal2, Caitano L. da Silva2, Graydon D Aulich1, David Bennecke1, Sampath Asiri Bandara1, Tobler Abbey1, Chloe Avitia1, Menolly Benedict1, Abigail Bencomo1, Lawrence Burkett1, Broden Jepson-LaTurner1, Susanna Lanucara1, John Pantuso2, Roy Stetson Reger2, Jhonys Moura2, Jacob Wemhoner2 and Julia Tilles3, (1)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, United States, (2)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, NM, United States, (3)Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, United States
A Survey of Energetic Compact Strokes in Japan (1930758)
Ting Wu1, Qingliu Yang2, Daohong Wang1, Robert H Holzworth II3, David Miles Smith4, Yuuki Wada5, Kazuhiro Nakazawa6, Masashi Kamogawa7 and Tomoyuki Suzuki8, (1)Gifu University, Gifu, Japan, (2)Gifu University, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Gifu, Japan, (3)University of Washington, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Seattle, United States, (4)University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Physics and Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, Santa Cruz, United States, (5)Osaka University, Division of Electrical, Electronic, and Infocommunications Engineering, Osaka, Japan, (6)Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan, (7)Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan, (8)University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
A report on the 2025 Lightning Modeling Grand Challenge Workshop (1952745)
Eric C Bruning, Texas Tech University, GEOSCIENCES, Lubbock, TX, United States, Amanda Back, NOAA Global Systems Laboratory, Boulder, United States, Sonja A Behnke, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States, Steven J Goodman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Geo Earth Observations Program, Greenbelt, United States, Chris Hogg, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, United States, Timothy Lang, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, United States and Julia Tilles, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, United States
Data-constrained simulations of upward lightning leader ignition criteria (1953413)
John Pantuso1, Caitano L. da Silva2, Richard Sonnenfeld3, Adonis Leal1, Jacob Wemhoner1, Menolly Benedict3, Chloe Avitia3, Lawrence Burkett3, Tobler Abbey3, Abigail Bencomo3, Broden Jepson-LaTurner3, Sampath Asiri Bandara3, Jhonys Moura1, David Bennecke3, Susanna Lanucara3 and Roy Stetson Reger1, (1)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, NM, United States, (2)New Mexico Tech, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, United States, (3)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Langmuir Lab, Socorro, United States
Simulating Radiation Waveforms for Fractal Models of Electrical Discharges (1969731)
Annelisa Esparza, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Physical Sciences, Daytona Beach, FL, United States and Jeremy A Riousset, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Department of Physical Sciences, Daytona Beach, FL, United States
Fast-Moving Positive Leaders in Ground-to-Cloud Lightning as Observed During the Lake Effect Electrification (LEE) Field Campaign (1973244)
Stephanie A Weiss1, Michael Stock2, Jessica Losego3, Vanna Chmielewski4, Bee Lamsma5, Eric C Bruning1, Scott M Steiger6 and Kristin M Calhoun4, (1)Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States, (2)Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, Norman, United States, (3)Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, United States, (4)NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, United States, (5)SUNY College at Oswego, Atmospheric and Geologic Sciences, Oswego, United States, (6)SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY, United States
