Lightning research: 1991–1994

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

E-ISSN: 1944-9208|33|S2|833-843

ISSN: 8755-1209

Source: REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS, Vol.33, Iss.S2, 1995-07, pp. : 833-843

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Abstract

The guidelines request that articles include three principal sections: (i) fundamental process science (basic or “curiosity” research), (ii) applied science (that is, directed or “mission‐oriented” research) and (iii) implementation (research in support of commercial use or operational application of the results of basic or directed research). The ends of basic research on lightning are, to understand the processes of electrical discharges in the atmosphere, to understand the effects of lightning on and relation of lightning to other physical processes in the atmosphere, and to gain insights into the processes whereby thunderstorms become electrically charged. The principal means to these ends are observations, mainly of the electromagnetic emissions (radio‐frequency, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and occasionally x‐ray) associated with lightning. Often the observational results are interpreted or extended through use of mathematical models. Because it is very difficult to obtain good observational data on natural lightning, the community has been making increasing use of rockets with trailing wires to trigger lightning when and where it is desired. Interferometric and time‐of‐arrival observations of radio‐frequency emissions, intended to elucidate the temporal and spatial structure of discharge channels within storm clouds, show considerable promise for significant advancements in our basic understanding of lightning discharges. Applied, or mission‐oriented, lightning research is concerned with meteorological and climatological application of lightning data and with the effects of lightning on electrical and electronic systems, property, and living things, humans in particular. It is not easy to draw the line between the category of applied research and the third category, “implementation”. Commercial use and operational applications of lightning data are well underway, but not necessarily as a result of research dedicated to bridging the gap between basic and applied science, on the one hand, and commercial or operational application, on the other. Indeed, it appears that many papers that address commercially important issues or operational application, at least in part, easily fall under the more traditional category of applied research. This suggests that perhaps the distinction is an. artificial one. Nevertheless, the author has attempted to address the intent of the guidelines with a section on work that most directly relates to commercial and operational applications.