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 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 ...

  • Tropical TGF paradox: a perspective from TRMM precipitation radar 

    Morales Rodríguez, Carlos Augusto; Montanya Puig, Joan; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Fabró Tàpia, Ferran; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto (2021-07-27)
    Article
    Open Access
    The Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flash (TGF) to lightning ratio, computed over the three tropical chimneys, presents a paradox: African thunderstorms produce the most lightning but yield the lowest fraction of TGFs when compared ...

  • Lightning-ignited wildfires and long continuing current lightning in the Mediterranean Basin: Preferential meteorological conditions 

    Pérez Invernón, Francisco José; Huntrieser, Heidi; Soler López, Sergio; Gordillo Vázquez, Francisco; Pineda, Nicolau; Navarro González, Javier; Reglero, Víctor; Montanya Puig, Joan; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Koutsias, Nikos (European Geosciences Union (EGU), 2021-12-02)
    Article
    Open Access
    Lightning is the major cause of the natural ignition of wildfires worldwide and produces the largest wildfires in some regions. Lightning strokes produce about 5¿% of forest fires in the Mediterranean Basin and are one of ...

  • Initiation of lightning flashes simultaneously observed from space and the ground: Narrow bipolar events 

    López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Montañá Puig, Juan; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Romero Durán, David; Gordillo Vázquez, Francisco; Pérez Invernón, Francisco José; Luque Estepa, Alejandro; Morales Rodríguez, Carlos Augusto; Neubert, Torsten; Rison, William; Krehbiel, P.; Navarro González, Javier; Østgaard, Nikolai; Reglero, Víctor (2022-04-15)
    Article
    Open Access
    We investigate the initiation of four lightning flashes detected from ground by means of the Colombia Lightning Mapping Array (Colombia-LMA) and simultaneously observed from space by the optical sensors of the Atmosphere-Space ...

  • Assessing users’ perception on the current and potential educational value of an electrical engineering YouTube channel 

    Lijo, Ruben; Quevedo, Eduardo; Castro, Jose Juan; Horta Bernús, Ricard (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2022)
    Article
    Open Access
    Full comprehension of abstract concepts present in engineering education has been usually considered challenging. Engaging multimedia resources have proven to be useful pedagogical aids to increase students’ motivation. ...

  • Corona discharges from grounded rods under high ambient electric field and lightning activity 

    Sousa Arcanjo, Marcelo Augusto; Montanya Puig, Joan; Urbani, Michele; Fontanes Molina, Pol; Lorenzo, Victor; Pons Montserrat, Enric (2021)
    Conference report
    Open Access
    We assess results of corona pulses detected under high background electric field in the laboratory and in the field in two different experimental sites. The first location is on the roof of a regular building, and the ...

  • Experiments with a tethered drone to investigate induced charges on a vertically arranged conductor during fair weather 

    Sousa Arcanjo, Marcelo Augusto; Fontanes Molina, Pol; Urbani, Michele; Montanya Puig, Joan (2021)
    Conference report
    Open Access
    To better understand the phenomena associated with electrostatic charges and potential distribution over vertical conductors, this work describes preliminary results obtained with a tethered drone that is used to lay ...

  • Optical signatures associated with streamers and leaders of laboratory discharges 

    Sousa Arcanjo, Marcelo Augusto; Montañá Puig, Juan; Urbani, Michele; Lorenzo, Victor (2021-10-28)
    Article
    Open Access
    This work investigates the strongest optical emissions associated with long laboratory sparks (at the wavelengths of 337 nm and 777 nm) with the aim to understand similar emissions in lightning. The processes of the ...

  • A simultaneous observation of lightning by ASIM, Colombia-Lightning Mapping Array, GLM, and ISS-LIS 

    Montañá Puig, Juan; López Trujillo, Jesús Alberto; Morales Rodríguez, Carlos Augusto; Van der Velde, Oscar Arnoud; Fabró Tàpia, Ferran; Pineda, Nicolau; Navarro González, Javier; Reglero, Víctor; Neubert, Torsten; Chanrion, Olivier; Goodman, Steven J.; Østgaard, Nikolai; Ladino Rincón, Alfonso; Romero Durán, David; Solà de las Fuentes, Glòria; Horta Bernús, Ricard; Freijo Álvarez, Modesto (2021-02-17)
    Article
    Open Access
    The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on the International Space Station (ISS) provides optical radiances and images of lightning flashes in several spectral bands. This work presents a lightning flash simultaneously ...

  • Thunderstorm charge structures favouring cloud-to-ground lightning 

    Salvador Yuste, Albert; Pineda Rüegg, Nicolau; Montañá Puig, Juan; Solà de las Fuentes, Glòria (2021-08)
    Article
    Restricted access - publisher's policy
    Thunderstorm electrical structures favouring cloud-to-ground lightning were investigated through a Lightning Mapping Array (LMA), an accurate three-dimensional lightning location system that allows inferring the heights ...

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