Experimental Investigation of the Radar Cross Section of Cloud-to-Ground Lightning

Abstract

A 10 cm radar was employed in an effort to measure the radar cross section of cloud-to-ground lightning channels and its temporal variation. A data acquisition system was developed which is capable of recording the amplitude and range of lightning echoes in the presence of precipitation echoes, provided that the lightning echoes are initially greater in amplitude. Failure to detect any cloud-to-ground channels and measurement of the amplitude of the echo from intracloud channels formed the basis for the conclusion that the peak amplitude of echoes from cloud-to-ground lightning channels are less than or about equal to the peak amplitude of the associated precipitation echoes, at 10 cm. Suggestions are made with respect to optimum radars for future work.