LRG - Lightning Research Group

 

La recerca del nostre grup és en l'Electricitat Atmosfèrica i especialment en el fenomen del llamp. A la recerca bàsica treballem en: l'estudi de la física del fenomen del llamp; els esdeveniments lluminosos a l'alta atmosfera TLE; les emissions terrestres d'alta energia TGF; les emissions d’altes energies en llamps i descàrregues elèctriques; l'activitat de llamps en tempestes severes; i els camps electromagnètics produïts per llamps. També realitzem recerca aplicada en: la protecció contra el llamp d’aerogeneradors i avions; sistemes de seguiment i avís de tempestes; assaigs d'alta tensió al laboratori; etc. Bona part de la recerca del grup es centra en la missió ASIM de l’ESA on hem establert el Laboratori natural de la Vall de l'Ebre amb les instal·lacions de referència a Europa com ara: la torre de mesura de llamps del Niu de l’Àliga; la xarxa de traçat de llamps 3D Lightning Mapping Array, càmeres d’alta velocitat, interferòmetres VHF, detectors d'altes energies; i altres.

La investigación de nuestro grupo se desarrolla en el ámbito de la electricidad atmosférica y especialmente sobre el fenómeno del rayo. En la investigación básica trabajamos en el estudio de la física del fenómeno del rayo; los acontecimientos luminosos en la alta atmósfera (TLE); las emisiones terrestres de alta energía (TGF);
las emisiones de altas energías en rayos y descargas eléctricas; la actividad de los rayos en tormentas severas, y los campos electromagnéticos producidos por los rayos. También realizamos investigación aplicada en la protección contra el rayo de aerogeneradores y aviones; los sistemas de seguimiento y aviso de tormentas; los ensayos de alta tensión en el laboratorio, etc. Una buena parte de la investigación del grupo se centra en la misión ASIM de la ESA, a la que contribuimos mediante el Laboratorio del Valle del Ebro, que contiene instalaciones de referencia en Europa, como la torre de medición de rayos del Niu de l’Àliga; la red de trazado de rayos 3D (lightning mapping array); cámaras de alta velocidad; interferómetros VHF;detectores de altas energías, y otros.

Our group's research tackles the field of atmospheric electricity and particularly the phenomenon of lightning. In our basic research we study the physics of lightning, transient luminous events (TLEs) in the upper atmosphere, terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), high-energy emissions in lightning and electrical discharges, lightning activity in severe storms and electromagnetic fields produced by lightning. We also carry out applied research on lightning protection for wind turbines and aircraft, storm monitoring and warning systems, high-voltage laboratory tests, etc. Much of the Group's research focuses on the ESA's ASIM mission, to which we contribute via the Ebro Valley Laboratory’s benchmark European facilities, such as the lightning measurement tower in Niu de l’Àliga, a lightning mapping array, high-speed cameras, VHF interferometers and high energy detectors. Lightning physics and effects and atmospheric electricity processes. Lightning effects and protection on electrical systems, wind turbines and aircraft. Lightning location systems, observation and measurement of lightning parameters. Observation of mesospheric electrical discharges. High voltage test and research on the energetic processes of electrical sparks. Research on the protection of composite materials employed in aerospace and wind energy industry. Electromagnetic simulation and testing of complex structures.

Our group's research tackles the field of atmospheric electricity and particularly the phenomenon of lightning. In our basic research we study the physics of lightning, transient luminous events (TLEs) in the upper atmosphere, terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), high-energy emissions in lightning and electrical discharges, lightning activity in severe storms and electromagnetic fields produced by lightning. We also carry out applied research on lightning protection for wind turbines and aircraft, storm monitoring and warning systems, high-voltage laboratory tests, etc. Much of the Group's research focuses on the ESA's ASIM mission, to which we contribute via the Ebro Valley Laboratory’s benchmark European facilities, such as the lightning measurement tower in Niu de l’Àliga, a lightning mapping array, high-speed cameras, VHF interferometers and high energy detectors. Lightning physics and effects and atmospheric electricity processes. Lightning effects and protection on electrical systems, wind turbines and aircraft. Lightning location systems, observation and measurement of lightning parameters. Observation of mesospheric electrical discharges. High voltage test and research on the energetic processes of electrical sparks. Research on the protection of composite materials employed in aerospace and wind energy industry. Electromagnetic simulation and testing of complex structures.

Recent Submissions

  • New era of lightning detection from space: application to electric power systems 

    Montañá Puig, Juan; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Solà de las Fuentes, Glòria; Romero Durán, David; Morales Rodríguez, Carlos Augusto; Visacro, Silverio; Goodman, Steven J.; Williams, Earle Rolfe; Peterson, Michael J.; Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau; Sousa Arcanjo, Marcelo Augusto; Aranguren Fino, Harby Daniel (2021)
    Conference report
    Restricted access - publisher's policy
    Information about lightning activity and its parameters is necessary to design and evaluate the lightning protection of an electrical power system. This information can be obtained from ground-based lightning detection ...

  • Winter lightning triggered by wind-turbines: the case of snowstorm Filomena 

    Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau; Fabró Tapia, Ferran; Montañá Puig, Juan; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Solà de las Fuentes, Glòria; Rodríguez Ballester, Oriol (2022)
    Conference report
    Restricted access - publisher's policy
    Winter storm Filomena battered the Iberian Peninsula on the 9-10th January 2021, covering the eastern half of Spain with a huge amount of snow. Apart from the historical snowfall, lightning activity was observed during ...

  • Experimental study of the charge saturation levels of an aircraft with an active electrostatic charge control system 

    Fontanes Molina, Pol; Martell, Benjamin C.; Candela Rubio, Héctor; Guerra García, Carmen; Montañá Puig, Juan (2022)
    Conference report
    Restricted access - publisher's policy
    Artificially charging an aircraft might reduce the risk of triggered-lightning. In this study, we explore the charging limits of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle charged using an artificial electrostatic charge control system ...

  • Impact of electrical engineering didactic videos during emergency remote learning 

    Lijo, Ruben; Quevedo, Eduardo; Castro, Jose Juan; Horta Bernús, Ricard (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2023)
    Article
    Open Access
    This article demonstrates that didactic videos have the potential to enhance quality perception, performance and interest in engineering education. Emergency Remote Learning (ERL) imposed challenging conditions on education, ...

  • Upward propagation of gigantic jets revealed by 3D radio and optical mapping 

    Boggs, Levi D.; Mach, Doug; Bruning, Eric; Liu, Ningyu; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Montanya Puig, Joan; Cummer, Steven A.; Palivec, Kevin; Chmielewski, Vanna; MacGorman, Donald R.; Peterson, Michael J. (2022-08-05)
    Article
    Open Access
    Occasionally, lightning will exit the top of a thunderstorm and connect to the lower edge of space, forming a gigantic jet. Here, we report on observations of a negative gigantic jet that transferred an extraordinary amount ...

  • Small scale simulation of lightning using vertical wires deployed by drones: on the land and sea peak current asymetry 

    Montañá Puig, Juan; Fontanes Molina, Pol; Arcanjo, Marcelo; Urbani, Michele; Williams, Earle Rolfe; Romero Durán, David; Horta Bernús, Ricard; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau (2022)
    Conference report
    Restricted access - publisher's policy
    In this work we simulate lightning by means of vertical wires deployed by a multirotor drone under fair weather conditions. These wires, when isolated from ground, acquire an electric potential by virtue of electrostatic ...

  • Estudio de la accidentabilidad de la minería española en el período 2010-2019 

    Sanmiquel Pera, Lluís; Bascompta Massanes, Marc; Freijo Álvarez, Modesto; Vintró Sánchez, Carla; Felipe Blanch, José Juan de (2022-10-26)
    Article
    Open Access

  • Potential use of space-based lightning detection in electric power systems 

    Montañá Puig, Juan; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Solà de las Fuentes, Glòria; Romero Durán, David; Morales Rodríguez, Carlos Augusto; Visacro, Silverio; Saba, Manuel; Goodman, Steven J.; Williams, Earle R.; Peterson, Michael J.; Pineda, Nicolau; Sousa Arcanjo, Marcelo Augusto; Aranguren Fino, Daniel (2022-12)
    Article
    Open Access
    Information about lightning activity and its parameters is necessary to design and evaluate the lightning protection of an electrical power system. This information can be obtained from ground-based lightning detection ...

  • Meteorological factors in the production of gigantic jets by tropical thunderstorms in Colombia 

    Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Montanya Puig, Joan; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto (2022-10-15)
    Article
    Open Access
    Gigantic jets are electric discharges that on rare occasions can be seen at night shooting out of the top of tropical thunderclouds, reaching the ionosphere (90 km). Using sensitive camera systems and detection software, ...

  • New WMO certified megaflash lightning extremes for flash distance (768 km) and duration (17.01 seconds) recorded from space 

    Peterson, Michael J.; Lang, Timothy J.; Logan, Timothy; Wee Kiong, Cheong; Gijben, Morne; Holle, Ronald L.; Kolmasova, Ivana; Marisaldi, Martino; Montañá Puig, Juan; Pawar, Suwil D.; Zhang, Daile; Brunet, Manola; Cerveny, Randall S. (American Meteorological Society, 2022-02-01)
    Article
    Open Access
    Initial global extremes in lightning duration and horizontal distance were established in 2017 (Lang et al. 2017) by an international panel of atmospheric lightning scientists and engineers assembled by the WMO. The ...

  • Synchronization in real time of two Stewart platforms 

    Rossell Garriga, Josep Maria; Vicente Rodrigo, Jesús; Barcons Xixons, Víctor (Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, 2020)
    Conference report
    Open Access
    This paper presents two mechanisms that have been designed, built and put into operation by our research team at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona (Spain) which have many practical applications in ...

  • Multi-stroke positive cloud-to-ground lightning sharing the same channel observed with a VHF broadband interferometer 

    Urbani, Michele; Montañá Puig, Juan; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Sousa Arcanjo, Marcelo Augusto; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto (2022-04-15)
    Article
    Open Access
    In the same lightning flash, whose usual duration is less than a second, there can be multiple negative cloud-to-ground strokes with different terminations or following a preexisting channel to the ground. In contrast, it ...

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