Looping Network Meetings

#41 April 21, 2023

Monday, 15:00 CET

Sander Nijdam

Streamer discharge patterns: imaging and characterization

Abstract:
Streamers are fast-moving ionization fronts that can form complex tree-like structures or other shapes, depending on conditions. The most common and well-known occurrence of streamers is as the precursor of sparks where they create the first ionized path for the later heat-dominated spark discharge. Streamers play a similar role in the inception and in the propagation of lightning leaders. Streamers are directly visible in our atmosphere as so-called sprites, discharges far above active thunderstorms. Sufficiently long and thick streamer discharges frequently split into separate channels, a process called branching. This can lead to complex patterns. I will discuss such patterns, and the ways to image and characterize them.

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