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| www.isleofwightweather.net - Brighstone Weather Station |
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Using a Boltek Storm Tracker lightning detector, and Astrogenic Systems NexStorm 1.50.0.2378 with StormVue 1.5XE software, we are able to generate the following detailed plotting of storms around the Isle of Wight. StormTracker works by detecting the radio signals produced by lightning. These are the same signals you can hear on an AM radio during a thunderstorm. StormTracker's direction-finding antenna provides direction information while storm distance is calculated from received signal strength. Special processing in software reduces the effects of strike-to-strike energy variations providing more accurate distance information.
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| sferic activity recorded at the Isle of Wight Weather Station Network | ||||||||||||||||
| lightning count graph | ||||||||||||||||
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| key to types of lightning recorded | ||||||||||||||||
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| disclaimer | ||||||||||||||||
| This lightning data is only approximate and should not be used for safety applications. Strike and storm locations indicated and alarm statuses may be erroneous and should not be used to safeguard personnel, equipment or data. |
Cloud to ground lightning
Cloud-to-ground lightning is the most damaging and dangerous form of
lightning. It is not the most common type, but it is the one that is
best understood. Most cloud-to-ground lightning strikes come from
the negatively charged bottom of the cloud traveling to the
positively charged ground below. Some cloud-to-ground lightning
strikes deliver positive charges to the ground. Positive strikes are
less common and come from the higher regions of the thundercloud.
Often, cloud-to-ground lightning bolts strike the highest object,
like the top of a building or the top of a tall tree. The lightning
strikes can cause fire and property damage. If a person is the
highest object in the lightning bolt's path, the lightning may
strike the person. Lightning strikes can cause severe injury or
death. Cloud-to-ground lightning is the best understood type of
lightning because it leaves so much evidence behind.
In cloud lightning
A less common lightning strike occurs between oppositely charged
areas of different clouds. This means that there are positive and
negative charges within different clouds and the strike travels in
the air between them. This type of lightning is known as intercloud
lightning.
Intracloud lightning
Intracloud lightning is the most common type of lightning. This
occurs between oppositely charged centers within the same cloud.
This means that there are both positive and negative charges within
the same cloud. Usually the process takes place within the cloud and
looks like a bright flash of light which flickers. This bright flash
may leave the cloud and the flash can be visible for many miles.
Special thanks to Jeremy Fisk for his valued assistance in obtaining this data.
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