Cloud to ground and ground to cloud flashes in lightning protection: and future severe lightning and climate change

The two common types of lightning flashes that interact with both land systems and airborne systems are the cloud to ground (CG), or downward flashes, and the ground to cloud (GC), or upward flashes. In this paper we report on the direct effect of lightning strike on an aircraft when subject to both GC and CG flashes. The paper utilizes the transmission line based model simulation of both CG and GC flashes and compares the engineering parameters of both types of earth flashes. The paper also examines the first return current stroke and voltages induced when aircraft is subject to a direct lightning strike at various altitudes. A significant increase of current and voltage was observed on the aircraft frame due to direct lightning strike. Thus, the magnitudes of peak current and voltage observed are capable of inducing a higher electric field along the surface since the time transient is short which can have severe effects on the aircraft electrical and electronics systems.