Electrical detection of thunderstorm microbursts
OwnerEarle R. Williams, Ralph J. Marksoninventors
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Abstract
An array of sensors responsive to atmospheric electrostatic fields is deployed, preferably with the sensors elevated above the ground. Suitable sensors are corona point sensors having a stainless steel needle. The corona current signals from the sensors are digitized and processed to determine the peak in the rate of sharp discontinuities in the electrostatic field. The peak in the rate of sharp discontinuities precedes a thunderstorm microburst by several minutes. The signal processing apparatus also generates equipotential contour maps of electrostatic field for spatially locating a microburst. The latter signal may also serve as a predictor for windshear since anomalous electric fields caused by charge carrying downdrafts may occur without lightning.
Claims17
Apparatus for prediction of thunderstorm microbursts consisting of:
- at least one sensor responsive to atmospheric electrostatic fields;
- and
- signal processing apparatus connected to the at least one sensor for determining the rate of discontinuities in the electrostatic field, each peak in the rate of discontinuities being indicative of the likelihood for a future microburst.
Method for prediction of thunderstorm microbursts comprising:
- detecting any peak in the rate of discontinuities in the atmospheric electrostatic field, each peak being indicative of the likelihood for a future microburst.
Apparatus for determining the location of thunderstorm microbursts comprising:
- a two-dimensional array of electric field sensors responsive to atmospheric electrostatic fields;
- and
- signal processing apparatus interconnected to the sensors in the array of sensors, the signal processing apparatus including computing apparatus adapted to generate equipotential contour maps of the electrostatic field, the contour maps including closed concentric curves, the centers of the smallest closed curves identifying the location of microbursts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.