Lightning Efficiency…
May 21st, 2009
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The probability of a lightning downstrike starting a fire depends on if the strike has a component called a continuing current. This was news to me until I read it on the Wildland Fire Assessment System site. I knew that positive strikes were more likely to start a fire than a negative strike, but now I know why that happens.
All positive strikes have continuing current, but only 20% of negative strikes do. The probability of a downstrike starting a fire depends on if it has continuing current (or the duration of the current) and how receptive the fuel is to igniting, with fuel moisture playing a prominent role.
From a posting this week on Wildfire Today.
Categories: Origin & Cause
