Home
For authors
Submission status

Archive
Archive (English)
Current
   Volumes 113-120
   Volumes 93-112
      Volume 112
      Volume 111
      Volume 110
      Volume 109
      Volume 108
      Volume 107
      Volume 106
      Volume 105
      Volume 104
      Volume 103
      Volume 102
      Volume 101
      Volume 100
      Volume 99
      Volume 98
      Volume 97
      Volume 96
      Volume 95
      Volume 94
      Volume 93
Search
VOLUME 103 (2016) | ISSUE 7 | PAGE 510
Numerical simulation of positive streamer development in thundercloud field enhanced near raindrops
DOI: 10.7868/S0370274X16070055
Abstract
As the threshold field strength for the breakdown in air significantly exceeds the maximum measured thundercloud strength 3 kV/cm/atm, the problem of lightning initiation remains unclear. According to the popular idea, lightning can be initiated from streamer discharges developed in the enhanced electric field in a vicinity of hydrometeors. To test the idea, we carry out numerical simulations of positive streamer development around charged water drops at air pressure typical at thundercloud altitudes and at different background fields, drop sizes and charges. With real drop sizes and charges, the electric field required for the streamer formation is stronger than the measured fields; therefore, second mechanism is required to amplify the local field.