The electrical structure of thunderstorms

Abstract

The simultaneous observation of the thunderstorm electricity was made at eight stations during the summer of 1957. The potential-gradient changes from a number of lightning flashes were analyzed. Within the cloud, the electric moments were destroyed at the height from 4km to 7km and the values of the moments were distributed to the extent of 70Ckm. By the cloud-ground flashes, negative charges so far as about 30C were transfered to the earth through a distance from 4km to 11km. The cloud flashes and the earth flashes occurred at different horizontal positions in the cloud, as well as at different levels. Referring to the aerological data, the location of the charge center or the charge-separation level was related with the air temperature. The average results give a picture of a thunderclound similar to that of double dipole by Kuettner. © 1958, Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences. All rights reserved.