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Direct observation of lightning current is a fundamental approach to evaluating lightning parameters, which are among the most basic factors for the lightning protection design of various grounded objects. However, for a tall grounded structure, upward lightning flashes initiated from the top of the structure have usually been observed, and the direct observation results of downward flashes have been limited. We developed and installed a pair of Rogowski coils at Tokyo Skytree, which is a 634-m-high freestanding broadcasting tower in Japan (35.71°N, 139.81°E), and have conducted direct observation of lightning flashes striking the tower. As of November 2018, 70 lightning flashes striking the tower, 26 downward and 44 upward, have been observed since the end of February 2012. In this paper, we focus on the downward negative flashes that occurred at the tower for seven years from 2012 to 2018 and report on the observed results of typical waveform parameters of lightning stroke currents in comparison with other observed results on downward negative flashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there have been several reports of blade damage caused by lightning strikes on wind turbines. A few of these accidents have resulted in more serious secondary damage owing to the continued rotation of the damaged blades. To prevent the initial damage from spreading in this manner, wind farms in the regions of Japan vulnerable to winter lightning were required to introduce lightning detection systems, which can accurately detect when lightning strikes the wind turbine and then immediately stop the rotation of the blades. Normally, when the system detects a lightning strike to a wind turbine and stops operation, the process of restarting is initiated only after the soundness of the blades is confirmed by visual inspection. However, in bad weather, it is often difficult to check the soundness of the blade visually, and the resulting delay in the restart process prolongs the downtime and reduces the availability of the wind turbine. In this paper, we report the results of using the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system data to check the soundness of the blades after a lightning strike to resume operations more quickly, thereby increasing up-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unusual negative lightning flash was recorded at the Säntis Tower on June 15, 2012. The flash did not contain an initial continuous current typical of upward negative lightning, which is the most common type of event at the Säntis Tower. The flash contained four strokes, the last three of which were normal while the current associated with the first stroke resembled a Gaussian pulse with an unusually high peak value of 102.3 kA, a long risetime of 28.4 μs, and a pulsewidth of 53.8 μs, which was followed by an opposite polarity overshoot with a peak value of 8.5 kA. Our current records suggest the involvement of a long upward connecting positive leader in response to the approaching downward negative leader in the formation of this flash. Lightning location system (LLS) data indicate that a positive cloud-to-ground stroke occurred 1 ms prior to the first stroke of the flash. In this paper, we present a detailed description of the data associated with this event. Moreover, both a return stroke model and an M-component model are used to reproduce the far-field waveform of this bipolar stroke. The simulations result in a radiated electric field waveform that is similar to those of large bipolar events (LBEs) observed in winter thunderstorms in Japan. A sensitivity analysis of the used simulation models reveals that, by proper selection of the input parameters, all field waveform characteristics, except for the positive half-cycle width, can be made to fall in the range of LBE field characteristics reported in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the results of lightning current measurement on transmission lines in Japan. Publication of the characteristics of lightning current amplitude in papers written on the issue; Methods used for conducting field investigations of lightning current in Japan; Results of lightning current measurement using magnetic links on transmission lines.

Approximately 50% of natural lightning flashes make multiple contacts on the ground. Lightning-induced voltage by nearby lightning stroke is the major cause of overvoltage. The electromagnetic waves emitted by lightning flashes with multiple ground strike points (GSPs) increase new risks to damage electronics information devices located in the vicinity of the GSPs. Therefore, it is very important for electromagnetic compatibility engineering to clarify the characteristics of lightning flashes with multiple GSPs. We have observed lightning discharges over the whole area of Japan detected by the Japanese Lightning Detection Network (JLDN). Specifically, we analyzed negative cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes observed by JLDN within 80 km of Sagamihara in summer. We investigated the median location accuracy of the JLDN in the observation area to evaluate characteristics of spatial distribution of subsequent strokes hitting the GSPs. The median location accuracy varied between 0.2 and 0.4 km in the observed area. The mean multiplicity of negative CG flash observed by JLDN was 3.5. The average inter-stroke interval of new ground contact (NGC) strokes was longer than that of pre-existing channel (PEC) strokes. The ratio of peak current to the first return stroke was higher in the NGC than that in the PECs. Some of flashes hit the ground at several points. The mean number of GSPs was 2.0 per flash, with the mean number of 1.6 subsequent strokes per a GSP. Furthermore, the number of strokes per a GSP has not been previously reported. We also observed that the subsequent strokes altered between different GSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, lightning electric field waveforms related to notable power transmission-line faults in winter along the coastline of the Sea of Japan were examined. Most of the wave- forms of the observed electromagnetic field changes, which were more than five times as intense as an average negative return- stroke fields, are inferred to be associated with upward lightning discharges. Lightning discharges that produce such characteristic waveforms are termed ground-to-cloud flashes, and properties of the associated electric field waveforms are examined. These lightning discharges in winter distribute around the coastline of the Sea of Japan in different ways depending on their polarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposes a novel calculation method of multiphase back flashover occurrence on the Okushishiku Test Transmission Line in winter lightning season in Japan. Role of winter lightning in the cause of most transmission line outages in Japan; Identification of several methods used to analyze transmission line outage; Procedure used for measuring lightning surges.

A network of lightning location systems covering the entire Japanese Archipelago has been operational since the late 1980s. However, the operational records appear to be distorted relative to winter lightning flash densities. The maximum flash density registered was 0.3 flashes/km² per one winter season, a mere one-tenth of the corresponding figure for severe summer lightning anywhere along the archipelago. On the other hand, the fault frequencies of overhead transmission lines constructed in the severe winter lightning districts are comparable with those of severe summer lightning districts. The author submits to resolve the apparent disparity by introducing two analytical parameters, namely 1) the propagation velocity of the return strokes of the winter lightning, and 2) the seasonal difference in the altitude of the lightning charge in the cloud. Consequently, the author proposes a certain seasonal modification of the threshold level applicable to the operation of lightning location systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmission line exposed to thunder storms in the winter manifests a series of unique behaviors substantially different from those observable during the summer season. The share of multiphase simultaneous faults as a percentage against the total number of faults is more numerous for winter than for summer. In addition, simultaneous flashing occurs onto different towers on several occasions. Since most of the transmission lines, including 500-kV ones, are built on a double circuit principle in Japan, these Lines are vulnerable to double-circuit faults during the winter. Exhaustive effort has been made to trace the origin. The author examined statistical data on the lightning performance of transmission lines as well as results of various field investigations, and established a fault probability estimation theory, which may be utilized to formulate pertinent countermeasures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the incidence of ground lightning between the period of 1992-1995 in Japan. Establishment of the rational insulation design of power transmission systems; Information on lightning location systems in Japan; Description of the dispersion of lightning flash density in Japan; Examination of the relationship between the number of lightning strokes and thunderdays.