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

  • Climatology of transient luminous events and lightning observed above Europe and the Mediterranean Sea 

    Arnone, E.; Bór, József; Chanrion, Olivier; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud (2019-11-04)
    Article
    Open Access
    In 1999, the first sprites were observed above European thunderstorms using sensitive cameras. Since then, Eurosprite campaigns have been conducted to observe sprites and other transient luminous events (TLEs), expanding ...

  • Analysis of the lightning production of convective cells 

    Figueras i Ventura, Jordi; Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau; Besic, Nikola; Grazioli, Jacopo; Hering, Alessandro; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Romero Durán, David; Sunjerga, A.; Mostajabi, A.; Azadifar, M.; Rubinstein, M.; Montanya, Joan; Germann, Urs; Rachidi-Haeri, Farhad (2019-10-22)
    Article
    Open Access
    This paper presents an analysis of the lightning production of convective cells. The cells were detected by the MeteoSwiss Thunderstorms Radar Tracking (TRT) algorithm in the course of a lightning measurement campaign that ...

  • Wakefield acceleration in planetary atmospheres: a possible source of MeV electrons : the collisionless case 

    Arrayas Chazeta, Manuel; Cubero Gómez, David; Montañá Puig, Juan; Seviour, Rebecca; Trueba Santander, Jose Luis (2018-07-01)
    Article
    Open Access
    Intense electromagnetic pulses interacting with a plasma can create a wake of plasma oscillations. Electrons trapped in such oscillations can be accelerated under certain conditions to very high energies. We study the ...

  • Active learning based laboratory towards engineering education 4.0 

    Delgado Prieto, Miquel; Fernández Sobrino, Ángel; Ruiz Soto, Lucía; Romero Durán, David; Fibla Biosca, Pere; Romeral Martínez, José Luis (2019)
    Conference report
    Open Access
    Universities have a relevant and essential key role to ensure knowledge and development of competencies in the current fourth industrial revolution called Industry 4.0. The Industry 4.0 promotes a set of digital technologies ...

  • Meteorological aspects of self-initiated upward lightning at the Säntis Tower (Switzerland) 

    Pineda, Nicolau; Figueras i Ventura, Jordi; Romero Durán, David; Mostajabi, A.; Azadifar, M.; Sunjerga, A.; Rachidi-Haeri, Farhad; Rubinstein, M.; Montanya, Joan; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Altube Vázquez, Patricia; Besic, Nikola; Grazioli, Jacopo; Germann, Urs; Williams, Earle R. (2019-12-26)
    Article
    Open Access
    Interest in exploring the meteorological conditions favoring upward lightning from tall man-made structures has grown in recent years, largely due to the worldwide expansion of wind energy. To this end, instrumented towers ...

  • LMA observations of upward lightning flashes at the Säntis Tower initiated by nearby lightning activity 

    Sunjerga, A.; Rubinstein, M.; Pineda, Nicolau; Mostajabi, A.; Azadifar, M.; Romero Durán, David; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Montanya, Joan; Figueras i Ventura, Jordi; Besic, Nikola; Grazioli, Jacopo; Hering, Alessandro; Germann, Urs; Diendorfer, Gerhard; Rachidi-Haeri, Farhad (2020-04)
    Article
    Restricted access - publisher's policy
    We present in this paper lightning current measurements, LMA (Lightning Mapping Array) data and fast antenna electric fields associated with upward flashes observed at the Säntis Tower during summer of 2017. The LMA network ...

  • Gigantic jet discharges evolve stepwise through the middle atmosphere 

    Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Montanya, Joan; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Cummer, Steven A. (2019-09-25)
    Article
    Open Access
    In 2002 it was discovered that a lightning discharge can rise out of the top of tropical thunderstorms and branch out spectacularly to the base of the ionosphere at 90¿km altitude. Several dozens of such gigantic jets have ...

  • Análisis de un accidente del sector minero mediante el método del árbol de causas y el método de Feyer & Williamson 

    Sanmiquel Pera, Lluís; Bascompta Massanes, Marc; Felipe Blanch, José Juan de; Vintró Sanchez, Carla; Anticoi Sudzuki, Hernán Francisco; Freijo Álvarez, Modesto (2019)
    Conference report
    Open Access
    Fundamento y Métodos: En esta investigación se presenta el caso del análisis de un accidente del sector minero a través de 2 métodos distintos: 1) árbol de causas, 2) Feyer & Williamson. En el método del árbol de causas ...

  • Valoración de los accidentes graves y mortales en las minas españolas entre los años 2013 y 2017 

    Freijo Álvarez, Modesto; Sanmiquel Pera, Lluís; Montañá Puig, Juan; Romero Durán, David (2019-06-25)
    Article
    Open Access
    La industria minera es considerada como una de las industrias más peligrosas. Hay la necesidad de una gestión eficaz de la salud y de la seguridad en el trabajo para salvaguardar a los trabajadores. El objetivo de este ...

  • Polarimetric radar characteristics of lightning initiation and propagating channels 

    Figueras i Ventura, Jordi; Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau; Besic, Nikola; Grazioli, Jacopo; Hering, Alessandro; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Romero Durán, David; Sunjerga, A.; Mostajabi, A.; Azadifar, M.; Rubinstein, M.; Montañá Puig, Juan; Germann, Urs; Rachidi-Haeri, Farhad (2019-05-27)
    Article
    Open Access
    In this paper we present an analysis of a large dataset of lightning and polarimetric weather radar data collected in the course of a lightning measurement campaign that took place in the summer of 2017 in the area surrounding ...

  • On the TGF/lightning ratio asymmetry 

    Fabró Tàpia, Ferran; Montañá Puig, Juan; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau; Williams, Earle R. (2019-05-14)
    Article
    Open Access
    Africa is one of the most productive lightning regions on Earth, yet it has a lower TGF-to-lightning ratio especially compared with Central America. In this paper we have analyzed the global distribution of different ...

  • Charge structure of two tropical thunderstorms in Colombia 

    López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Montañá Puig, Juan; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau; Salvador Yuste, Albert; Romero Durán, David; Aranguren Fino, Harby Daniel; Taborda, John (2019-04-23)
    Article
    Open Access
    Charge structure derived from lightning leader development of tropical thunderstorms comprising equatorial latitudes of < ±10° has not been investigated yet. In this work, using a Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) installed ...

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