HR: 0800h
AN: AE41A-0141    [Abstracts]
TI: Current Propagation in Narrow Bipolar Pulses
AU: * Watson, S S
EM: sswatson@olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University, MS 38677 United States
AU: Marshall, T C
EM: marshall@olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University, MS 38677 United States
AB: We model the observed electric fields of a particular narrow bipolar pulse (NBP) published in Eack [2004]. We assume an exponential growth of current carriers due to a runaway breakdown avalanche and show that this leads to a corresponding increase in current. With specific input values for discharge altitude, length, current, and propagation velocity, the model does a good job of reproducing the observed near and far electric field. The ability of the model to reproduce the observed electric fields is an indication that our assumptions concerning the runaway avalanche may be correct, and this indication is further strengthened by the inability of the simple transmission line model to reproduce simultaneously both the near and far electric fields. Eack, K. B. (2004), Electrical characteristics of narrow bipolar events, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L20102, doi:10.1029/2004/GL021117.
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3367 Theoretical modeling
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005