THE ELECTRIC-FIELD CHANGES AND UHF RADIATIONS CAUSED BY THE TRIGGERED LIGHTNING IN JAPAN

The electric field changes, the magnetic field changes, and UHF radiation were observed during the rocket-triggered lightning experiment in winter storms. A remarkable discrepancy is noticed between electromagnetic field changes of flashes triggered with a rocket and an isolated wire that struck a power tower and flashes with a rocket and a grounded wire. Flashes to tower have a distinguishable first pulse of a large amplitude, which, we speculate, occurs at the moment of attachment of a downward leader to the tower. The UHF radiation measurements indicate that the triggered lightning process starts with a pulse series resembling a negative stepped leader. The electric field change records of rocket-triggered lightning in winter storms do not show the presence of rapid field variations typical for return strokes in natural cloud-to-ground flashes.