Features of Upward Lightning Measured in a Tropical Region and Their Potential to Cause Hazardous Effects

Features of upward lightning and their potential to yield hazardous effects are discussed based on original fast video and simultaneous records of current and electric field of a recent event measured at Morro do Cachimbo Station (MCS). Statistics of parameters of 20 negative upward lightning measured in this tropical area since 2010 are presented and the main parameters that express their potential to produce damages are compared to the counterparts in temperate regions. The events measured at MCS can be classified in two categories, according to the charge of their initial continuous current: ~6 C (14 events) and ~0.9 C (6 events), with variations lower than 8%. MCS events have significantly lower charge, shorter duration, and much lower specific energy in relation to events measured in temperate regions. Thus, they have lower potential to yield hazardous effects.