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Abstract This review covers selected results of recent observations of lightning discharges performed across the entire electromagnetic spectrum (radiofrequency, optical, and energetic radiation) at the Lightning Observatory in Gainesville, Florida. The most important results include (a) characterization of the preliminary-breakdown, stepped-leader, and return-stroke processes in high-intensity (⩾50 kA) negative lightning discharges, (b) the first high-speed video images of bidirectional leader that made contact with the ground and produced a return stroke, (c) discovery of negative stepped leader branches colliding with the lateral surface of neighboring branches of the same leader, (d) new data on the occurrence context and properties of compact intracloud discharges, and (e) observation of a terrestrial gamma-ray flash that occurred during a bipolar cloud-to-ground lightning discharge. The results serve to improve our understanding of the physics of lightning with important implications for lightning modeling, lightning protection, and high-energy atmospheric physics studies.
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Unsupervised Clustering and Supervised Machine Learning for Lightning Classification: Application to Identifying EIPs for Ground‐Based TGF Detection
Key Points A framework merging unsupervised clustering and supervised convolutional neural network (CNN) for lightning classification is developed Clustering of positive polarity energetic lightning radio pulses (>150 kA) identifies three processes: +EIPs (6%–7%), +NBEs, and +CGs CNNs detect 95.2% of manually identified +EIPs with up to 98.7% accuracy, enabling studying EIP‐TGF link with lower peak current (>50 kA)
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- Award ID(s):
- 2026304
- PAR ID:
- 10448563
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
- Volume:
- 128
- Issue:
- 9
- ISSN:
- 2169-897X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD038369
