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Correlation between speed of the stepped leader and peak current of the return stroke of lightning flashes
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  • Ivan Toucedo Cruz,
  • Marcelo Magalhães Fares Saba,
  • R. U. Abbasi,
  • Diego Rhamon Reis da Silva,
  • Tagianne Patricia da Silva,
  • Paola Beatriz Lauria,
  • Ny Thi Kieu,
  • José Cláudio Oliveira Silva,
  • Carina Schumann,
  • Hugh Hunt
Ivan Toucedo Cruz
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Marcelo Magalhães Fares Saba
INPE - National Institute for Space Research
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R. U. Abbasi
Loyola University Chicago
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Diego Rhamon Reis da Silva
National Institute for Space Research
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Tagianne Patricia da Silva
National Institute for Space Research
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Paola Beatriz Lauria
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
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Ny Thi Kieu
Loyola University Chicago
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José Cláudio Oliveira Silva
APTEMC
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Carina Schumann
University of the Witwatersrand
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Hugh Hunt
University of the Witwatersrand
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Abstract

This study analyzes the two-dimensional speed profiles of 107 stepped leaders and 93 dart leaders recorded by high-speed cameras in Utah (USA), together with data from lightning location system (NLDN). The results show that the stepped leader speed right before the ground contact (final speed) has a very strong correlation (R = 0.85) with the peak current of the initiated return stroke. It also shows that the correlation between the average speed and the peak current of the return stroke is strong (R = 0.73). The same analysis for dart leaders did not show any significant correlation with the peak current of the prospective return stroke (R = 0.41 to average speed and R = 0.29 to final speed). This paper discusses why stepped leaders exhibit a significant correlation, while dart leaders do not. In addition, why final speed is better correlated with peak current than average speed.
08 Aug 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
12 Aug 2024Published in ESS Open Archive