Search Results (32)

Given the increasing threat of lightning to modern electronic systems and human activities, the accurate identification and classification of lightning electromagnetic pulses has become a critical research focus, prompting the present study. A dataset was established by collecting lightning electromagnetic signals generated by various types of lightning under diverse environmental conditions via the lightning location system of the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Subsequently, A deep learning model integrating a convolutional neural network was developed for feature extraction and pattern recognition using the multi-station data. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model significantly improves LEMP identification accuracy (exceeding 97%) compared to existing single-station methods. Moreover, it effectively uncovers complex hidden features within the data, outperforming conventional approaches in both accuracy and robustness. In conclusion, the proposed deep learning model offers a reliable technical foundation for lightning monitoring and localization based on LEMP signals. Full article

This paper deals with an optimal operation method for surge protective devices (SPDs) to calculate the maximum continuous operating voltage (U_C) and the voltage protection level (U_P) by considering the sum of the voltage protection level and the dielectric continuous voltage limit of surge protective devices in order to effectively protect energy storage system (ESS) from switching and lightning surges. This paper also implements a test device for SPDs in ESSs based on the concept of a lightning electromagnetic surge protection measurement system (LPMS) by combining an SPD coordinated with spatial shielding with an ESS configuration. Here, the test device for the SPD in the ESS is composed of a power distribution unit (PDU), uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and a lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) protection device, which combines two units of SPDs and disconnection switches (DSs) connected in parallel with two units of main circuit breakers (MCBs) and noise cut transformers (NCTs) connected in series. From the test results based on the proposed optimal operation method and test device, it is clear that the residual voltage with a third-class combination waveform can be kept within 1.5 kV of the surge voltage limit in all test scenarios, and it is confirmed that the proposed test device for SPDs can protect ESSs from switching and lightning surges. Therefore, it is confirmed that the SPD tested using the proposed method can effectively reduce switching and lightning surges, while the existing SPDs installed in ESS sites cannot protect ESSs from such surges. Full article

Wideband electromagnetic pulse detection is a crucial method for lightning disaster monitoring. However, the random nature of lightning events presents challenges in fulfilling real-time calibration requirements for electromagnetic pulse sensors. This paper introduces a segmented ultra-wideband TEM horn antenna tailored for portable calibration experiments in electromagnetic pulse detection systems. The radiating plates feature a four-section polygonal design, and an end-loaded metal plate is integrated to reduce reflection signal interference. Rigorous simulation analyses were performed on three key factors impacting antenna radiation performance: aperture impedance, tapering profile, and end loading configuration. Experimental results show that the designed antenna achieves a peak field strength of 48.9 V/m at a 10 m distance, with a rise time of 0.87 ns and a full width at half maximum of 1.75 ns. The operating frequency ranges from 48 MHz to 150 MHz, with main lobe beamwidths of 43° and 83° in the E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns, respectively. These parameters meet the technical requirements for electromagnetic pulse sensor calibration experiments. Full article

To clarify the background of multiple burst (MB) specifications in the aviation lightning test standards, a broadband lightning electromagnetic field measurement system was employed to collect 91 sets of VLF/LF band nature flash data. A total of 719 typical repetitive pulse (RP) groups were identified, and 163,589 single pulse samples were analyzed statistically. The variational mode decomposition (VMD) method and a trend-free correlation on index (TFCI) were used to extract RPs from the slowly varying trends and high-frequency noises from the measured data. The time-domain characteristics of four kinds of RPs corresponding to the lightning discharge events—initial breakdown pulse (IBP), regular pulse bursts (RPB), chaotic pulse train (CPT), and dart-stepped leader (DSL)—were investigated. By comparing previous statistics and the definition in current international aviation standards, the intrinsic correlation between RPs and the defined parameters of MBs was explored. New recommendations for the MB test standard were subsequently proposed. Full article

Very-low-frequency electromagnetic waves have low propagation loss, slow attenuation, a stable phase and amplitude in the Earth ionosphere waveguide cavity, and are widely used in VLF communication and navigation, ionospheric heating, global lightning distribution inversion, and other fields. Studying the transmission characteristics of very-low-frequency (VLF) signals in the ionosphere is of great significance in spaceborne VLF communication technology. The existing research on ionospheric transmission characteristics using the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) algorithm is mostly based on high-frequency pulse signals, and the propagation model is relatively rough, resulting in certain calculation errors. To this end, a time-domain finite-difference algorithm model based on a uniaxial anisotropic perfectly matched layer (UPML) boundary in a spherical coordinate system was established, effectively solving the reflection problem existing in PEC boundary. The algorithm was used to numerically calculate the field-strength attenuation of VLF waves in the ionosphere. The simulation results showed that in the VLF frequency band, reducing the frequency is beneficial for electromagnetic waves to penetrate the ionosphere. Although the attenuation trend in the VLF waves is roughly the same during the day and night, the attenuation during the day is significantly greater than that at night, and this was compared and analyzed with traditional algorithms to verify the accuracy of the algorithm. Full article

Lightweight aeronautical structures and power generation structures such as wind turbines are fitted with protected external layers designed and certified to withstand severe climatic events such as lightning strikes. During these events, high currents flow through the structural protection but are likely to induce effects deeper in the supporting composite material and could even reach or perforate pressurized tanks. In situ measurements are hard to achieve during current delivery due to the severe electromagnetic conditions, and the lightning strike phenomenon on these structures is not yet fully investigated. To gain a better understanding of the physics involved, similarities in direct damage between lightning-struck samples and those subjected to pulsed lasers and an electron gun are analyzed. These analyses show the inability of a pure mechanical contribution to fully reproduce the shape of the delamination distribution of lightning strikes. Conversely, the similarities in effect and damage with the thermomechanical contribution of electron beam deposition are highlighted, particularly the increase in core delamination due to the paint and the apparent similarities in delamination distribution. Full article

Time of arrival (TOA) is a widely utilized method for positioning lightning return strokes, with its accuracy contingent upon the arrival times of signals from different detection sites. Typically, the peak value method is employed to directly extract the peak times of lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) waveforms. By correlating these peak times with the coordinates of the sites, the spatiotemporal parameters of the LEMP can be determined. However, due to the dispersion phenomenon of broadband LEMP signals during propagation, the positioning accuracy of the peak method is relatively low. This paper introduces a novel lightning positioning technique that leverages continuous wavelet transform (CWT) for narrowband feature extraction. Specifically, narrowband signal characteristics were derived through CWT applied to simulation and measured data obtained from six detection sites. Subsequently, positional analysis was performed on both datasets. The results demonstrate that compared to traditional peak value methods, the proposed approach significantly enhances horizontal positioning accuracy for lightning; specifically, positioning error for simulation data decreased from 94.7 m to 5.6 m, while it reduced from 121 m to 9.2 m for practical measured data. Full article

The integration of satellite-borne and ground-based global lightning location networks offers a better perspective to study lightning processes and their evolutionary characteristics within thunderstorm clouds, thereby bolstering the predictive capabilities for severe weather phenomena. Currently, the satellite-borne network is in the preliminary testing phase with a single satellite. The geographic locations of single-satellite detection events primarily rely on synchronous information from coincident ground-based network events; this method is called synchronous locating (SCL). However, variations in detection-frequency bands and system capabilities prevent this method from accurately locating more than a mere 10% of events. To address this limitation, this paper introduces a cluster-analysis-based strategy, utilizing the observations from the Worldwide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), termed the cluster analysis locating (CAL) method. The CAL method’s performance, influenced by the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN), the K-means, and the mean shift algorithms, is examined. Subsequently, an advanced version, mean shift denoised (MSDN)-CAL, is proposed, demonstrating marked improvements in location accuracy and reliability over the other CAL methods. The satellite-borne wideband electromagnetic pulse detector (WEMPD), orbiting at an altitude of approximately 500 km with a 97.5° inclination, captured 1061 strong electromagnetic pulses (EMPs). Among these, trans-ionospheric single pulses (TISPs) and trans-ionospheric pulse pairs (TIPPs) constituted 21.30% and 78.70%, respectively. Using the MSDN-CAL method successfully determines the geographic locations for 81.15% (861 out of 1061) of the events. This success rate represents an approximate eightfold enhancement over the SCL method. The arithmetic mean, geometric mean, and standard deviation of the two-dimensional range deviation of the locating results between the MSDN-CAL method versus the WWLLN-SCL (or the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Lightning Location System (GHMLLS)-SCL) method are 51.06 (176.26) km, 16.17 (92.53) km, and 100.95 (174.79) km, respectively. Furthermore, it has been possible to estimate the occurrence altitudes for 81.92% (684 out of 835) of the TIPP events. The altitude deviations, as determined by comparing them with the GHMLLS-SCL method’s locating results, exhibit an arithmetic mean of 2.08 km, a geometric mean of 1.30 km, and a standard deviation of 2.26 km. The outcomes of this research establish a foundation for deeper investigation into the origins of various event types, their seasonal variations, and their geographical distribution patterns. Moreover, they pave the way for utilizing a single satellite to measure global surface reflectance, thus contributing valuable data for meteorological and atmospheric studies. Full article

An engineering model to represent positive return strokes is introduced as an extension of the Modified Transmission Line model with Linear Current Decay (MTLL). This extension is grounded in experimental data on the electric fields and currents associated with positive return strokes. The core premise of the model is that once the return stroke front reaches the cloud, recoil leader-type activities within the cloud feed the lightning channel with a positive charge. This positive charge then travels to the ground in the form of an M-component, enhancing both the amplitude and duration of the impulse current in the channel and at ground level. The propagation of the return stroke current along the channel follows the MTLL model, while the M-component is treated as a current pulse traveling from the cloud to the ground. At ground level, the M-component current is fully reflected. The model successfully generates electromagnetic fields that resemble those observed from positive return strokes, and it is easily applicable to studies involving the interaction of positive return stroke fields with power lines and the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Full article

The Spaceborne Global Lightning Location Network (SGLLN) serves the purpose of identifying transient lightning events occurring beneath the ionosphere, playing a significant role in detecting and warning of disaster weather events. To ensure the effective functioning of the wideband electromagnetic pulse detector, which is a crucial component of the SGLLN, it must be tested and verified with specific signals. However, the inherent randomness and unpredictability of lightning occurrences pose challenges to this requirement. Consequently, a high-power electromagnetic pulse radiation system with a 20 m aperture reflector is designed. This system is capable of emitting nanosecond electromagnetic pulse signals under pre-set spatial and temporal conditions, providing a controlled environment for assessing the detection capabilities of SGLLN. In the design phase, an exponentially TEM feed antenna has been designed firstly based on the principle of high-gain radiation. The feed antenna adopts a pulser-integrated design to mitigate insulation risks, and it is equipped with an asymmetric protective loading to reduce reflected energy by 85.7%. Moreover, an innovative assessment method for gain loss, based on the principle of Love’s equivalence, is proposed to quantify the impact of feed antenna on the radiation field. During the experimental phase, a specialized E-field sensor is used in the far-field experiment at a distance of 400 m. The measurements indicate that at this distance, the signal has a peak field strength of 2.2 kV/m, a rise time of 1.9 ns, and a pulse half-width of 2.5 ns. Additionally, the beamwidth in the time domain is less than 10°. At an altitude of 500 km, the spaceborne detector records a signal with a peak field strength of approximately 10 mV/m. Particularly, this signal transformed into a nonlinear frequency-modulated signal in the microsecond range across its frequency spectrum, which is consistent with the law of radio wave propagation in the ionosphere. This study offers a stable and robust radiation source for verifying spaceborne detectors and establishes an empirical foundation for investigating the impact of the ionosphere on signal propagation characteristics. Full article

The impact of a lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) on a power line or power station produces an effect similar to that of switching between a significant power source and a power line circuit. This switch closure causes a sudden change in routing conditions, creating a transient state. This situation has been studied in terms of electrostatic and electromagnetic induction, as well as overvoltage changes. Appropriate mathematical models were used to analyze these changes. While vertical electric field analysis has been carried out in a few studies, magnetic field and horizontal electric field vectors have not been studied. In this study, the Rusck formulation and the Heidler current formulation are combined at the current level, developed and analyzed. This is because the Rusck expression can sometimes give incorrect results at the current level. Also, in the analysis, electromagnetic field formulations based on accelerating charges are used instead of the dipole approximation to eliminate the need for interpolation in the graphical results. In contrast to other studies in the literature, this study proposes the use of moving and accelerating load techniques to better understand the effects of LEMPs on power transmission lines. Also, in this study, the double exponential problem of the current form in Rusck’s formulation is addressed in order to obtain a close approximation of the physical form of the LEMP. Additionally, the field–line (coupling) relationship is studied according to a unique closed formulation, leading to important determinations about the overvoltages generated on a line depending on the propagation speed of the LEMP sprout and the electrical changes in the area where the LEMP first occurs. Full article

Ultra-long-distance and high-precision lightning location technology is an important means to realize low-cost and wide-area lightning detection. This paper carried out research on the high-precision location technology of very-low-frequency (VLF) lightning electromagnetic pulse based on the Asia-Pacific Lightning Location Network (APLLN) deployed in 2018. Two key technologies are proposed in this paper: one is the calculation method of signal arrival time using very-low-frequency lightning electromagnetic pulse waveform, and the other is the compression transmission technology of lightning electromagnetic pulse waveform based on a signal principal component analysis. The results of a comparison and evaluation of the improved APLLN with the ADTD system show that the APLLN has a relative location efficiency of 69.1% and an average location error within the network of 4.5 km. Full article

In order to analyze the interference mechanisms of indirect lightning effects on a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a circuit model of the LNA was constructed based on the advanced design system 2020 (ADS 2020) software. Lightning pulse injection simulations were conducted to explore the influence of lightning pulses on the performance of the LNA. A pin injection test was performed to investigate the interference and damage threshold of the LNA. A protective circuit incorporating the transient voltage suppressor (TVS) and Darlington structure was designed through simulation, employing the ADS 2020 for the LNA. The research findings reveal that the interference threshold for the LNA is 60 V, while the damage threshold is determined to be 100 V. The protective circuit demonstrates a measured insertion loss of 0.1 dB, a response time of 1.5 ns, and a peak output voltage of 20 V. The research results indicate that the protective circuit can effectively reduce the impact of lightning’s indirect effects on the LNA. In the future, we will continue the design work of the protective circuit and proceed with physical fabrication and experimental validation. Full article

Lightning Electromagnetic Pulses, or LEMPs, propagate in the Earth–ionosphere waveguide and can be detected remotely by ground-based lightning electric field sensors. LEMPs produced by different types of lightning processes have different signatures. A single thunderstorm can produce thousands of LEMPs, which makes their classification virtually impossible to carry out manually. The lightning classification is important to distinguish the types of thunderstorms and to know their severity. Lightning type is also related to aerosol concentration and can reveal wildfires. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a good approach to recognizing patterns and dealing with huge datasets. AI is the general denomination for different Machine Learning Algorithms (MLAs) including deep learning and others. The constant improvements in the AI field show us that most of the Lightning Location Systems (LLS) will soon incorporate those techniques to improve their performance in the lightning-type classification task. In this study, we assess the performance of different MLAs, including a SVM (Support Vector Machine), MLP (Multi-Layer Perceptron), FCN (Fully Convolutional Network), and Residual Neural Network (ResNet) in the task of LEMP classification. We also address different aspects of the dataset that can interfere with the classification problem, including data balance, noise level, and LEMP recorded length. Full article

The ionosphere can be perturbed by solar and geomagnetic activity, earthquakes, thunderstorms, etc. In particular, electromagnetic pulses produced by thunderstorms can generate wave structures in the ionospheric plasma, which are known as atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs), which can be detected by measuring the total electron content (TEC). We studied ionospheric variations resulting from thunderstorms on 10 November 2018, between 00:00 and 08:00 UTC, in the central region of Argentina, site of the RELAMPAGO–CACTI Project (Remote sensing of Electrification, Lightning, and Mesoscale/Microscale Processes with Adaptive Ground Observations; Clouds, Aerosols, and Complex Terrain Interactions). Atmospheric electrical activity data were provided by the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN) and the TEC was computed from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements provided by the Argentinian Continuous Satellite Monitoring Network (RAMSAC by its Spanish acronym). We found AGWs with periods less than or equal to 100 min and peak-to-peak Differential Vertical Total Electron Content (DVTEC) amplitude values up to 1.35 TECU (1 total electron content unit $={10}^{16}$ electrons/m${}^2$). We observed that AGWs show the highest peak-to-peak amplitudes during intense thunderstorm periods. On a day without thunderstorms, the peak-to-peak amplitudes were approximately 2.91 times lower. Full article