Effects of Soil Uniformity on Radial Electric Field of Lightning Electromagnetic Pulse

Abstract

Soil uniformity has direct effects on the lightning radial electric fields propagated in both above and under ground, which may lead to significant impacts on many systems around lightning stroke location. This research aims to fully comprehend the impact of soil uniformity on the lightning radial electric fields propagated over different water content of the soil. MTLE model was used to represent the lightning return stroke channel. The return stroke channel, lightning electromagnetic field propagation, and frequency-dependent soil were modeled in COMSOL. Radial electric fields were determined at various observation distances from the lightning channel. The influence of peak values, wave shapes, and polarities of the above/underground radial electric over different soil structure, and at various distances from lightning channels were studied. The results show that the soil uniformity has a significant impact on the above/underground fields and their behaviors with different water contents.