Experiment of artificially triggering lightning in China

摘要: Triggering lightning experiment with rocket—wire technique was conducted in Gansu, northwestern China. Ten cases of triggered were obtained three summers from 1989 to 1991. They all positive electric field at ground (positive charge overhead) under the influence dominant lower Gansu thundercloud. Triggered lightnings weak discharges initiated by upward moving negative leaders followed continuous current processes. No dart leader—return stroke processes observed. The discharge lasted about several tens miliseconds a peak only few hundred amperes. Simple physical models are used evaluate velocity leader propagation, magnitudes, and altitudes transferred lightnings. Results consistent features thunderstorms.