The occurrence context of compact intracloud discharges (CIDs) is examined using their electric field waveforms and corresponding NLDN data. A total of 1096 CIDs transporting negative charge upward and 8 CIDs transporting positive charge upward were analyzed. The CIDs were categorized based on whether they were isolated or were followed, preceded, or both followed and preceded by other NLDN-reported lightning events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To present recommendations for the education, prevention, and management of lightning injuries for those involved in athletics or recreation.
Background: Lightning is the most common severe-storm activity encountered annually in the United States. The majority of lightning injuries can be prevented through an aggressive educational campaign, vacating outdoor activities before the lightning threat, and an understanding of the attributes of a safe place from the hazard.
Using a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector designed to operate in electrically noisy environments, we observed intense bursts of energetic radiation (>> 10 kiloelectron volts) during the dart leader phase of rocket-triggered lightning, just before and possibly at the very start of 31 out of the 37 return strokes measured. The bursts had typical durations of less than 100 microseconds and deposited many tens of megaelectron volts into the detector. These results provide strong evidence that the production of runaway electrons is an important process during lightning.
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