Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning

Abstract A fundamental question in lightning flash concerns why the discharge channel propagates in a zig-zag manner and produces extensive branches. Here we report the optical observation of two negative cloud-to-ground lightning discharges with very high temporal resolution of 180,000 frames per s...

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Autores principales:	Rubin Jiang, Xiushu Qie, Hongbo Zhang, Mingyuan Liu, Zhuling Sun, Gaopeng Lu, Zhichao Wang, Yu Wang
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2017
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/68a804d23d1f4e96b04c3e50f7803592
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:68a804d23d1f4e96b04c3e50f78035922021-12-02T11:52:58ZChannel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning10.1038/s41598-017-03686-w2045-2322https://doaj.org/article/68a804d23d1f4e96b04c3e50f78035922017-06-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03686-whttps://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract A fundamental question in lightning flash concerns why the discharge channel propagates in a zig-zag manner and produces extensive branches. Here we report the optical observation of two negative cloud-to-ground lightning discharges with very high temporal resolution of 180,000 frames per second, which shows in detail the dependence of channel branching and tortuous behavior on the stepping process of the leader development. It is found that the clustered space leaders formed in parallel ahead of the channel tip during an individual step process. The leader branching is due to the multiple connection of the clustered space leaders with the same root channel tip, which occur almost simultaneously, or successively as some space leaders/stems resurrect after interruption. Meanwhile, the irregularity of angles between the clustered space leaders and the advancing direction of leader tip is the origin of channel tortuosity. The statistical analysis on 96 steps shows a geometric-mean value of 4.4 m for the step length, ranging between 1.3 and 8.6 m, while the distance from the center of space leader to the channel is 3.6 m, ranging between 2.1 and 6.9 m. More than 50% steps occurred within an angle range of ±30° from the advancing direction of the leader.Rubin JiangXiushu QieHongbo ZhangMingyuan LiuZhuling SunGaopeng LuZhichao WangYu WangNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2017)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Rubin Jiang Xiushu Qie Hongbo Zhang Mingyuan Liu Zhuling Sun Gaopeng Lu Zhichao Wang Yu Wang Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning
description	Abstract A fundamental question in lightning flash concerns why the discharge channel propagates in a zig-zag manner and produces extensive branches. Here we report the optical observation of two negative cloud-to-ground lightning discharges with very high temporal resolution of 180,000 frames per second, which shows in detail the dependence of channel branching and tortuous behavior on the stepping process of the leader development. It is found that the clustered space leaders formed in parallel ahead of the channel tip during an individual step process. The leader branching is due to the multiple connection of the clustered space leaders with the same root channel tip, which occur almost simultaneously, or successively as some space leaders/stems resurrect after interruption. Meanwhile, the irregularity of angles between the clustered space leaders and the advancing direction of leader tip is the origin of channel tortuosity. The statistical analysis on 96 steps shows a geometric-mean value of 4.4 m for the step length, ranging between 1.3 and 8.6 m, while the distance from the center of space leader to the channel is 3.6 m, ranging between 2.1 and 6.9 m. More than 50% steps occurred within an angle range of ±30° from the advancing direction of the leader.
format	article
author	Rubin Jiang Xiushu Qie Hongbo Zhang Mingyuan Liu Zhuling Sun Gaopeng Lu Zhichao Wang Yu Wang
author_facet	Rubin Jiang Xiushu Qie Hongbo Zhang Mingyuan Liu Zhuling Sun Gaopeng Lu Zhichao Wang Yu Wang
author_sort	Rubin Jiang
title	Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning
title_short	Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning
title_full	Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning
title_fullStr	Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning
title_full_unstemmed	Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning
title_sort	channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2017
url	https://doaj.org/article/68a804d23d1f4e96b04c3e50f7803592
work_keys_str_mv	AT rubinjiang channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning AT xiushuqie channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning AT hongbozhang channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning AT mingyuanliu channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning AT zhulingsun channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning AT gaopenglu channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning AT zhichaowang channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning AT yuwang channelbranchingandzigzagginginnegativecloudtogroundlightning
_version_	1718394928848961536

Channel branching and zigzagging in negative cloud-to-ground lightning

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