Study of lightning current by remanent magnetization

✍ Scribed by Hideo Sakai; Shinya Sunada; Hitoshi Sakurano

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 118 KB
• Volume: 123
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0424-7760
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1520-6416(199806)123:4<41::aid-eej6>3.0.co;2-o

✦ Synopsis

A study of remanent magnetization is made at the areas of lightning strikes. In the case of triggered lightning (Okushishiku, Hokuriku district), the magnetic direction of the specimens shows a clockwise rotation pattern around the point of lightning strike. At an archaeological site in Miyagi Prefecture, an anticlockwise pattern of the magnetic direction was detected. These results indicate that a stable remanent magnetization is acquired by the strong magnetic field induced surrounding the lightning current, both in negative and positive lightning flashes. Also, a detailed analysis of magnetization clarifies the electric current flow underground caused by the lightning. The study of remanent magnetization will become a useful method to elucidate the path of the lightning current.