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Lightning Initiation From Fast Negative Breakdown is Led by Positive Polarity Dominated Streamers

Publication ,  Journal Article
Huang, A; Cummer, SA; Pu, Y
Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
April 28, 2021

Evidence of positive polarity dominated streamers preceding fast negative breakdown (FNB) and of simultaneous positive and negative polarity streamer development in lightning initiation is reported. Observations of lightning initiation as FNB have remained a puzzle because simulations of lightning initiation have shown that negative streamers are not produced in virgin air without simultaneous positive streamers. Here, the authors observe positive streamer development forms first or at least simultaneously with negative streamers. Further evidence comes from observations of mixed fast breakdown (FB). The overall trajectory of the positive breakdown during such mixed events indicates that the positive streamers continuously propagate during the burst of strong negative breakdown. These observations indicate that even when negative streamers dominate the overall very high frequency (VHF) emissions, both positive and negative streamers are propagating simultaneously from the initiation point. These findings on the structure and dynamics of FB provide key new insight to our understanding of lightning initiation.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

April 28, 2021

Volume

48

Issue

8

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
 

Citation

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MLA
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Huang, A., Cummer, S. A., & Pu, Y. (2021). Lightning Initiation From Fast Negative Breakdown is Led by Positive Polarity Dominated Streamers. Geophysical Research Letters, 48(8). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091553
Huang, A., S. A. Cummer, and Y. Pu. “Lightning Initiation From Fast Negative Breakdown is Led by Positive Polarity Dominated Streamers.” Geophysical Research Letters 48, no. 8 (April 28, 2021). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091553.
Huang A, Cummer SA, Pu Y. Lightning Initiation From Fast Negative Breakdown is Led by Positive Polarity Dominated Streamers. Geophysical Research Letters. 2021 Apr 28;48(8).
Huang, A., et al. “Lightning Initiation From Fast Negative Breakdown is Led by Positive Polarity Dominated Streamers.” Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 48, no. 8, Apr. 2021. Scopus, doi:10.1029/2020GL091553.
Huang A, Cummer SA, Pu Y. Lightning Initiation From Fast Negative Breakdown is Led by Positive Polarity Dominated Streamers. Geophysical Research Letters. 2021 Apr 28;48(8).
Journal cover image

Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

April 28, 2021

Volume

48

Issue

8

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences