On the lightning hazard warning using electrostatic field: Analysis of summer thunderstorms in Spain

This work presents an analysis of lightning warnings based on atmospheric electrostatic field measurements achieved in the city of Terrassa (northeastern Spain). Seven summer thunderstorms were analyzed. Lightning location data were obtained from two lightning detection networks that provide cloud-to-ground (CG) and intra-cloud (IC) flash information. Warning behaviour was studied on the basis of the “two area method” using both electrostatic field (EF) thresholds and polarity reversal detection. The study of the total lightning locations (CG + IC) with respect to the electric field mill (EFM) site lets investigate the possible EF threshold and EF polarity inversion values useful for warning. The probability of detection (POD) and the false alarm ratio (FAR) were evaluated in both cases obtaining slightly better results by using polarity change criteria. The paper also includes a discussion about the lead times (LTs) obtained between the trigger of a warning and a CG located in the area of concern (AOC).     

A preliminary study on time series forecast of fair-weather atmospheric electric field with WT-LSSVM method

Accurate forecasting of fair-weather atmospheric electric field is of great importance to denote the climate change, and it also plays a vital role in lightning forecasting. In this paper, the WT (Wavelet transform)-LSSVM (Least squares support vector machine) method is proposed to develop a model to forecast time series of fair-weather atmospheric electric field. The application experiments with data from Verhnee Dubrovo, Dusheti, and Voeikovo stations show that the predicted data and observed value have the same tendency. The correlation coefficients between them are 0.8149, 0.6395 and 0.7308, while the MSE are 16.9869 V/m, 28.8876 V/m and 32.2163 V/m, respectively. Furthermore, comparing to LSSVM and ANN, WT-LSSVM is a superior method to predict the monthly mean values of fair-weather atmospheric electric field.     

基于微波链路的降雨场反演方法研究

本文基于微波雨衰的幂律关系, 研究了使用微波链路反演降雨场的方法, 采用层析技术建立了降雨场反演模型. 并利用SIRT算法与正则化算法实现对降雨场层析反演模型的求解. 数值模拟结果表明, 该模型与反演算法能够较为准确地重建降雨场强度与空间分布特征, 能够提供高时空分辨率的二维降雨强度分布. 因此, 利用微波衰减数据进行降雨探测可以作为常规的雨量计与天气雷达观测手段的有效补充. 关键词： 微波雨衰 微波链路 降雨场重建 层析反演     

基于VHF辐射源短基线定位系统对闪电放电过程的研究

利用闪电VHF辐射源短基线定位系统2009年东北大兴安岭地区的观测资料,对正、负地闪和云闪放电过程中的VHF辐射源进行了定位研究.根据闪电VHF辐射源的二维位置(方位角和仰角)随时间的演变特征,结合同步观测的快、慢电场变化资料分析发现,持续时间较长的地闪预击穿过程在云中的放电通道呈双层结构,预击穿过程结束阶段的云内放电表现为反冲流光,预击穿过程的平均速度在10⁴m/s量级.预击穿过程为梯级先导的发展提供了必要的条件,梯级先导从预击穿起始位置开始并向下发展,产生较强的辐射,平均速度在10⁵m/s量级.K过程主要是流光沿之前已电离通道的传输.正、负地闪回击阶段前后的放电特征有明显不同,正地闪回击之后,连续电流期间的较长时间的云内放电产生较强的VHF辐射.对闪电在125---200MHz频段范围的VHF辐射频谱特征的统计分析发现,辐射能量呈现出幅值随频率增加而减小的趋势,在通带范围上基本遵循f^-2.9的衰减率递减.     

基于VPX总线的高速数字电路测试系统研究及应用

为解决战略预警雷达、舰载一体化等重点型号雷达中高速数字电路模块的维护能力,设计了基于VPX总线的高速数字电路自动测试系统,通过自研基于VPX总线的多功能测试模块、光纤测试模块,以及通用VPX背板,再结合通用的仪器设备构建测试系统,可兼顾多个型号雷达高速数字电路模块的测试。该系统可提供10路光纤通道,波特率最高为3.2Gbps;16路GPIO信号,中断响应时间＜50us;14路Rocket IO信号,传输速率2.5Gbps;4路*4Rapid IO信号,传输速率3.125Gbps。研究及实测结果表明该系统可解决基于VPX总线的高速数字电路模块的测试。     

3D simulation of the lightning path using a mixed physical-probabilistic model – The open source lightning model

The modeling of the lightning channel's propagation has been a major issue in lightning protection. Several solutions are already existing based on different assumptions revealing different properties of the lightning, including return strokes, the orientation point (and distance), and several other factors. The path of the lightning channel however is very hard to model using the physical equations and laws only, since a lot of the boundary conditions and starting conditions are unknown. Thus for these purposes the probabilistic approach is practically used. In this paper a lightning path simulation method is shown based on a probabilistic approach. The lightning path is mainly influenced by the electric field, and the existence of the start electrons. These conditions can't always be calculated, thus in many cases a probabilistic model shall be used. The model proposed in this article has a modular approach, it consists of several components. Each of these components can be improved based on existing theories, and empirical data, and this makes this simulation method – besides the realization – “open source”, as the components can be improved individually. At this stage of the development, many lightning parameters are yet omitted, but the model structure of course allows further improvement on this field as well.     

Long-Term Impact of Wind Erosion on the Particle Size Distribution of Soils in the Eastern Part of the European Union

Wind erosion is the leading cause of soil degradation and air pollution in many regions of the world. As wind erosion is controlled by climatic factors, research on this phenomenon is urgently needed in soil and land management in order to better adapt to climate change. In this paper, the impact of wind erosion on the soil surface in relation to particle size distribution was investigated. Changes in percentage of sand, silt and clay fractions based on historical KPP data (1961–1970), LUCAS data base (2009), and field measurements (2016) were analysed in five cadastral areas impacted by wind erosion (Záhorie Lowlands, Slovakia). With the use of GIS tools, models of spatial distribution of sand, silt, clay and erodible fraction (EF) content were developed based on those measurements. Our findings proved that soil texture change driven by wind erosion could happen relatively quickly, and a significant proportion of soil fine particles may be carried away within a few years. The results indicate that the soil surface became much rougher over the period of more than 50 years, but also that the accumulation of fraction of the silt particles occurred in most of the areas affected by the erosive effect.     

核爆与雷电电磁脉冲识别

用经验模态分解和分形分析相结合的方法对核爆和雷电电磁脉冲信号进行了识别研究。计算了核爆和雷电电磁脉冲原始信号的盒维数,以及原始信号经验模态分解后前4阶固有模态分量（IMF）的盒维数。用最近邻法对核爆和雷电进行了识别,实验结果表明:原始信号经验模态分解后一阶、二阶IMF盒维数的识别率要略高于三阶、四阶IMF盒维数的识别率;原始信号盒维数的识别率高于经验模态分解后各阶IMF盒维数的识别率;二维和三维特征的识别率要高于一维特征的识别率,另外二维和三维特征的识别率更加趋于稳定,并且三维特征的识别率都在90%以上。     

飑线系统中的闪电辐射源分布特征及云内电荷结构讨论

本文利用SAFIR3000闪电定位资料和多普勒天气雷达资 料分析了2010年6月13日发生于北京的飑线 系统中的闪电活动特征并讨论了电荷结构, 发现闪电都集中分布在飑线的前部线状强回波区域内, 仅在消散阶段在层云降水回波内发生的闪电数目明显增加. 通过闪电分布与降水的关系研究发现, 总闪电与对流降水整体相关系数达到了0.82, 云闪与对流降水的整体相关系数为0.76, 表明闪电的发生与雷暴云内动力和微物理过程密切相关. 基于闪电的辐射源分布特征, 讨论了飑线内电荷分布特征. 研究结果表明在飑线成熟阶段, 闪电辐射源密度的分布呈现出双层结构的分布特征, 下部的闪电辐射源中心位于4 km高度处, 上部的辐射源中心位于11 km高度处, 根据闪电双向先导的传输方式, 闪电辐射源密度高值区对应于负先导在正电荷区的传播, 飑线对流云区内总体呈现出中间为负电荷区, 上部和下部分别为正电荷区的三极性的电荷结构：上部正电荷区位于10–12 km高度处, 中部负电荷区位于8–10 km高度处, 下部正电荷区位于4–7 km高度处. 关键词： 飑线 闪电辐射源 电荷结构 SAFIR3000     

Influence of corona on strike probability of grounded electrodes by high voltage discharges

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the influence of corona formation processes at the tips of grounded rod electrodes on the probability of those rods being “struck” by high-voltage discharges. Experiments simulating the final stage of the attachment process were carried out with a composite voltage comprising a simultaneously applied impulse and DC potential of different levels to grounded rod electrodes simulating lightning rods, featuring either a spherical or pointed (conical) tip. The experiments show that corona does not influence the probability of the electrode being struck until a critical electric field (EF) strength is reached.     

Characteristics of lightning flashes striking the CN Tower below its tip

It has been observed that tall structures are sometimes struck by lightning below their tops. This phenomenon necessitates the use of special procedures for the protection of tall structures from lightning hazards. This paper focuses on the analysis of lightning flashes that struck the CN Tower below its tip over an extended period of time (1991–2005). Through the use of video images recorded during the reporting period, it was found that out of 404 flashes to the tower, only 16 hit the tower below its tip (3.96%). The distance between the tower's tip and the strike location varied from 5.4 to 70 m. Statistical analysis of flash characteristics of strikes below the tower's tip generally shows that the flash duration and the number of strokes per flash are considerably lower than those for the majority of cases, when the tower is struck at its tip. Furthermore, a trend of decrease in flash duration is found as the distance between the tower's tip and the strike location increases. Therefore, based on the analysis of the available data, lightning strikes below the top of a tall structure do not seem to pose greater danger than strikes to the structure's top, assuming that the structure is also protected along its sides. It is hoped that the presented observations and statistical analyses will be of value in the development of sophisticated measures against lightning hazards at elevated objects.     

A new concept in lightning parameters measurement

Nowadays the electrical activity measured in tall objects has been widely characterized, but the collected data of lightning rods installed in buildings do not amount to enough to obtain reliable statistics. The measures stored at relatively few points are not representative of the different types of installations. Furthermore, the protection model applied for lightning air terminal installations is based on theoretical models. This paper describes the design of a micro-station to measure some lightning parameters in real lightning air terminal installations correlated to the nature of emplacement instead of triggering lightning or choosing points with a high number of lightning impacts.     

Non-contrast enhanced diagnosis of acute myocarditis based on the 17-segment heart model using 2D-feature tracking magnetic resonance imaging

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of myocardial deformation analysis based on the 17-segment heart model using non-contrast enhanced (CE) 2D tissue feature tracking (2D-FT) technique.Material and methodsSeventy patients with suspected myocarditis underwent a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) examination at 1.5 Tesla. A contrast-agent-free part of this CMR protocol was additionally performed in forty healthy volunteers (HV). Besides standard CMR data sets, 2D-FT derived segmental and global longitudinal, radial, and circumferential deformation parameters were analyzed. The 2D-FT results were compared to the combined findings from CMR imaging and endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).ResultsPatients were assigned to three groups depending on their ejection fraction (EF) (<40%, 40–55%, ≥55%). Compared to HV, impaired EF (<55%) was significantly correlated to reduced segmental and global strain and strain rate values. The circumferential deformation analysis was more sensitive to myocardial changes than longitudinal and radial analysis. The segmental strain/strain rate had an accuracy of 84.3%/70.0% for the diagnosis of an acute myocarditis, stated by EMB and CMR in 42 of 70 patients. In patients with preserved EF, acute myocarditis could be ruled out using only segmental strain analysis with a negative predictive value of 87.5%.ConclusionIn patients with suspected myocarditis, the deformation analysis based on the 17-segment heart model provides valuable information about functional myocardial inhomogeneity. This quantitative approach could be used in addition to the clinical standard CMR protocol and represents a promising tool in the framework of a prospective automatized multiparametric CMR imaging analysis.     

闪电的分形特征研究及其在自动识别中的应用

利用2009年夏季青海地区的快电场变化测量仪的野外观测资料, 对120例地闪和77例云闪辐射场信号的分形特征进行了深入研究, 结果表明地闪辐射场信号的分形维数与云闪辐射场信号的分形维数有明显的差别, 再利用闪电的分形维特征, 构造了5个特征值, 将其作为支持向量机的输入进行地闪和云闪不同放电类型的识别, 有效识别率达到95%以上; 通过构造地闪辐射场时间序列信号的分形维数轨迹图表明分形维数最低点对应于原时间序列的回击位置, 利用分形维数轨迹中的最低点的位置能够快速准确地对地闪辐射场信号的回击点进行检测, 检测率可达到100%. 分形维是闪电的一种具有鉴别性的特征, 可用于闪电的智能分析与自动化处理. 关键词： 闪电信号 分形维数 支持向量机 自动识别     

On the interception of lightning flashes by power transmission lines

The design of the lightning protection system LPS of transmission lines is based on the well known electro-geometrical model. The electro-geometrical model assumes that the first point on a power transmission line that will come within striking distance of the tip of a down-coming stepped leader channel is the strike point of the lightning flash. The model neglects almost all of the physics associated with the lightning attachment.Nowadays, as it is possible to use modern hardware and software tools and several different numerical methods, it is feasible to apply the physics of the discharge process to the study of lightning attachment. Such models take into account the movement of the downward and the resulting upward leaders from different points on the structures under consideration.In this paper, a procedure based on lightning physics was used to analyze the lightning attachment phenomena in EHV transmission lines of 230 kV and 500 kV and the results were compared with the predictions of the electro-geometrical method.     

基于蒙特卡罗方法的卫星光学波段闪电辐射观测模拟

我国下一代静止气象卫星风云四号将首次搭载光学闪电成像仪上天,对闪电和与之相联系的强对流天气进行实时、连续观测。对未来风云四号卫星闪电观测资料的特性进行预先研究,一个重要的途径就是建立光学波段的闪电辐射传输模拟算法,对闪电辐射的物理过程及卫星观测到的闪电辐射光学特征进行模拟研究。结合风云四号卫星闪电成像仪观测的几何和波长参数,在构建简化的闪电光源模型和雷暴云模型的基础上,利用蒙特卡罗随机模拟和光子追踪方法,模拟得到了风云四号卫星闪电成像仪观测到的云顶闪电信号,并对其辐射特征进行了初步研究。结果表明,基于蒙特卡罗方法的闪电辐射传输模拟,可以从理论上揭示卫星光学波段闪电辐射观测与最重要影响参数之间的联系,这将为未来星载闪电资料的应用提供非常有价值的信息。     

A Variational Bayesian Deep Network with Data Self-Screening Layer for Massive Time-Series Data Forecasting

Compared with mechanism-based modeling methods, data-driven modeling based on big data has become a popular research field in recent years because of its applicability. However, it is not always better to have more data when building a forecasting model in practical areas. Due to the noise and conflict, redundancy, and inconsistency of big time-series data, the forecasting accuracy may reduce on the contrary. This paper proposes a deep network by selecting and understanding data to improve performance. Firstly, a data self-screening layer (DSSL) with a maximal information distance coefficient (MIDC) is designed to filter input data with high correlation and low redundancy; then, a variational Bayesian gated recurrent unit (VBGRU) is used to improve the anti-noise ability and robustness of the model. Beijing’s air quality and meteorological data are conducted in a verification experiment of 24 h PM2.5 concentration forecasting, proving that the proposed model is superior to other models in accuracy.     

The properties and the nature of ball lightning

The observed properties of ball lightning are given. A model of mean ball lightning taking average iarameters is based on observed data. By comparing the observed data with contemporary information on the processes occuring in activated air, different aspects of the ball lightning phenomenon are analysed. Among these are the ways of energy storage in ball lightning, the mechanisms of thermal processes, the form and structure of ball lightning, and the electrical phenomena and luminous processes in ball lightning. The separate problems are investigated on the basis of model experiments. Numerical analysis of various aspects of the phenomenon allows us to construct a phenomenological model of ball lightning. This model conforms well with the observed data and up-to-date information on the different physical processes. The experimental modelling of ball lightning is analysed. Analogues of ball lightning are considered. A general phenomenological scheme of ball lightning is given.     

The physical origin of the land–ocean contrast in lightning activity

New tests and older ideas are explored to understand the origin of the pronounced contrast in lightning between land and sea. The behavior of islands as miniature continents with variable area supports the traditional thermal hypothesis over the aerosol hypothesis for lightning control. The substantial land–ocean contrast in updraft strength is supported globally by TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) radar comparisons of mixed phase radar reflectivity. The land–ocean updraft contrast is grossly inconsistent with the land–ocean contrast in CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy), from the standpoint of parcel theory. This inconsistency is resolved by the scaling of buoyant parcel size with cloud base height, as suggested by earlier investigators. Strongly electrified continental convection is then favored by a larger surface Bowen ratio, and by larger, more strongly buoyant boundary layer parcels which more efficiently transform CAPE to kinetic energy of the updraft in the moist stage of conditional instability. To cite this article: E. Williams, S. Stanfill, C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 1277–1292.     

基于光电二极管探测器的闪电光辐射信号观测

 利用硅光电二极管探测器,对2008年夏季广东省从化地区和北京昌平地区的自然闪电光辐射信号进行了观测研究,并对获得的312个观测数据进行了统计。得到如下结果：光辐射脉冲峰值为［10.97(5.55)±12.46］ mW/cm²,10%~90%光脉冲前沿为［1.14(0.44)±2.02］ ms,50%~50%光脉冲宽为［1.44(0.49)±2.07］ ms,一次闪电包含的光脉冲数为［3.78(3.00)±2.30］个;将统计结果与FORTE卫星上的硅光电二极管载荷的探测结果进行了对比,光脉冲峰值要大1~2个量级,脉冲宽度要小,符合对闪电光辐射信号传播的物理过程分析。