IIHE invited seminar: Precision Lightning Mapping in 3-dimensions with LOFAR

by Dr Brian Hare (University of Groeningen)

Wednesday 18 Apr 2018, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/Brussels

Jean Sacton Seminar room (1G003) (IIHE)

Despite a long history of investigation, we still do not understand how lightning initiates in the cloud or propagates through the air. We do know that these processes can emit gamma rays, but the mechanism is not entirely clear. Recent advancements in lightning mapping and interferometry have provided tantalizing clues about the internal physics of lightning, but these systems still have very limited resolution. In this talk we will present an inverted intra-cloud lightning flash mapped with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR), which is a broadband radio telescope that consists of a large number of dual-polarized antennas, sensitive to 10-250 MHz, spread over the northern Netherlands and beyond. Since it covers a large frequency range, has antennas spread over a large area, and saves the raw trace data from the antennas, LOFAR is capable of probing the distribution of electrical current inside individual lightning processes on a smaller scale then ever before possible. This fine resolution will allow us to resolve the physical process underlying lightning initiation, propagation, and attachment to ground. The result will be improved lightning protection systems and an understanding of how lightning can emit energetic radiation such as gamma rays.

Slides Brussels.pptx