Influence of a Single Lightning Discharge on the Intensity of an Air Electric Field and Acoustic Emission of Near-Surface Rocks
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Solid Earth, 3, 307–311, 2012 www.solid-earth.net/3/307/2012/ Solid Earth doi:10.5194/se-3-307-2012 © Author(s) 2012. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Influence of a single lightning discharge on the intensity of an air electric field and acoustic emission of near-surface rocks S. E. Smirnov and Y. V. Marapulets Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Radio Wave Propagation (FEB RAS), Paratunka Kamchatskiy krai, Russia Correspondence to: S. E. Smirnov ([email protected]) and Y. V. Marapulets ([email protected]) Received: 2 April 2012 – Published in Solid Earth Discuss.: 7 June 2012 Revised: 27 August 2012 – Accepted: 31 August 2012 – Published: 1 October 2012 Abstract. The effect was observed as a sharp fall of the elec- precipitation, the atmospheric noise level in electric signal tric potential gradient from +80 V m−1 down to –21 V m−1. increases by two orders in comparison to changes in “fair After that the field returned to its normal level according to weather” conditions. In this case all the physical values were the formula of the capacitor discharge with 17 s characteristic measured when there was no precipitation, which allowed us time. Simultaneously, the response of the acoustic emission to measure fields as they were. Moreover, the cloud cover of surface rocks in the range of frequencies between 6.5 kHz on that day was not continuous but there were big cumu- and 11 kHz was evaluated. lus clouds. Electro-impulse effect on acoustic emission ac- tivity was earlier studied on geomaterial examples (Sobolev and Ponomarev, 2003; Sobolev et al., 2000; Bogomolov et al., 2004; Zacupin et al., 2006), and on rocks under the ef- 1 Introduction fect of impulses emitted by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator (Tarasov, 1997; Tarasov et al., 1999; Tarasov and In spite of a long period of investigation of lightning pro- Tarasova, 2004). In the present study, the increase of emis- cesses, scientific interest in these phenomena has not van- sion level in the range of 6.5–11 kHz in sedimentary rocks ished. The currently accepted concept that the Earth’s elec- under the influence of a lightning discharge was registered trostatic charge is formed by planetary lightning activity re- for the first time. quires more detailed consideration of discharge and charge transition processes in a cloud. In the paper the process of re- sponse in electric field intensity of the near-ground air and in acoustic emission on a single lightning discharge is studied. 2 Measurement technique The peculiarity of atmosphere electric state in Kamchatka is a small number of lightning strokes. Cold climate does Observations were carried out in Kamchatka at “Paratunka” not allow ground surface to warm up. There are no large observatory, IKIR FEB RA S (λ = 158.25◦ E, ϕ=52.9◦ N). temperature vertical gradients in the atmosphere and, conse- Electric field intensity measurements were realized by “Pole- quently, the conditions for appearance of lightning clouds are 2” electrostatic fluxmeter, developed in a branch of the very rare. According to official data from 1937 to 1982 (45 Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, Scientific Research years), only 22 lightning strokes have been registered (Kon- Center of Atmosphere Remote Sensing (Imynitov, 1957). dratuk, 1983). On 2 October 2008, a unique event for this “Pole-2” was installed on a test ground at the height of 3 m region occurred. At 17:46 LT (04:46 UT) a single lightning at the distance of 200 m from the administrative building discharge not accompanied by precipitation occurred. This (Fig. 1). discharge was visually observed by one of the authors. The The area around it is cleared from trees with the radius of reaction on this discharge was observed at “Paratunka” ob- 12 m. The construction of sensor installation is so that the servatory in electric field and in acoustic emission. In the leveled surfaces of electric field intensity at the measurement paper of Mikhailov et al. (2005), it was shown that, during point are parallel to the Earth’s surface (Fig. 2). Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. measuring plate in electric field, in the result of which the value of the induced charge was not continuous but there were big cumulusperiodically clouds. Electro changes. impulse The effect charge on accumulatingacoustic emission and draining from the plate generates current in activity was earlier studied on geomaterial examplesthe load [Sobolev circuit. and The Ponomarev, current amplitude 2003; Sobolev is proportional et al., to the measured electric field intensity, to 2000; Bogomolov et al., 2004; Zacupin et al., 2006],the androtation on rocks frequency under the of effect modulation of impulses plate emitted and to by the area of measuring plate; and the phase is magnitohydrodynamic (MHD) generator [Tarasov,determined 1997; Tarasov by the et electric al., 1999; field Tarasov direction and nearTarasova, the measuring plate surface. After digitizing by 2004]. In the present study the increase of emission14-bit level ADC in thewith range 1 s samplingof 6.5 – 11 frequency, kHz in sedimentary the signal at flux-meter output is recorded on a hard rocks under the influence of a lightning discharge was registered for the first time. disk of a PC. 308 S. E. Smirnov and Y. V. Marapulets: Influence of a single lightning discharge Fig. 2. Leveled surfaces of electric field intensity within the area of sensor installation Fig. 1. “Pole-2” instrument setup at observatory test ground. Fig. 2. Leveled surfaces of electric field intensity within the area of sensor installation Fig. 1. “Pole-2” instrument setup at observatory test ground. storage with 4 s time slot (Kuptsov, 2005). This data set is used in the following study. The analyzed value is a sum- The principle of operation of “Pole-2”Measurement instrumentation of the maryelectric for every field 4 swas acoustic carried pressure outPs atin every two frequency channels. The first channel has a is the following. Electric field intensity is transformed into channel. The performed investigations stated that, under the − electric current by rotaryresolution electrostatic generator, of 0.25 which V/m oper- and theinfluence dynamic of deformations range of of± the200 order V/m.∼10 The7 (Dolgikh second et al., channel has a resolution of 2.5 ates on the basis2. Measurement of electrostatic induction. technique Electrostatic in- 2007), an increase of emission activity is observed in the fre- duction current of the measured field induces electric charge quency range of first kilohertz which coincides with source on a measuring plate. Modulator,V/m and the the shielding dynamic plate, range peri- ofscales ± 2000 of 10 V/m.−1–1 m For (Kuptsov the estimations et al., 2005). This we effectused is measurements the of both channels. Observations were carriedodically shieldsout in the Kamchatka measuring plate at in electric“Paratunka” field, in theobservatory,most vividly IKIR observed FEB during RAS, strong earthquake preparation, result of which the value of the inducedAcoustic charge periodicallyemission (AE)1–3 registration days before an eventwas (Kuptsov carried et out al., 2005). by a hydro-acoustic receiver (hydrophone) λ=158,25°Ε ϕ=52,9°Ν changes. The charge accumulating and draining from the Monitoring of meteorological parameters (air temperature ( ; ). Electricplate generates field intensity current in the measurements load circuit. The current were ampli- realizedand by humidity, “Pole-2” atmospheric electrostatic pressure, precipitation level) is tude is proportional to thewith measured the sensitivity electric field intensity,of about hundredscarried out of by mV/Pa a digital meteo-stationtogether with WS-2000. embedded Magnetic preamplifier; the receiver is in- fluxmeter, developed in a Branchto the of rotation Voeikov frequency Main of modulation Geophysical plate and Observatory, to the area Scientificfield H, D, Z Researchcomponents Center were measured by a fluxgate mag- of measuring plate; the phase is determined by the electric stalled in an artificial pool at netometerthe distance FRG withof 54 the meters accuracy from of 0.01 the nT andelectric 1 s sam- field sensor. The pit of 1x1x1 field direction near the measuring plate surface. After digi- pling frequency. Time synchronization was made by GPS re- of Atmosphere Remote Sensingtizing [Imynitov, by 14-bit ADC 1957]. with 1“Pole-2” s sampling frequency,was installed the signal on a testceiver. ground at the height of at flux-meter output is recordedwas made on a hard in disk near of asurface PC. rocks and filled with water. Application of the hydrophone installed in a pool 3 m at the distance of 200 m fromMeasurement the administrative of the electric building field was carried(Fig.1). out in two channels. The first channel has a resolution of 0.25 V m−1 and the dynamic range ofallowed± 200 V mus−1 to. The register second chan-geoacoustic3 Main signal results in andthe discussion range of 0.1 Hz – 11 kHz, which is greater than ordinary The area around it isnel cleared has a resolution from trees of 2.5 Vwith m−1 andthe the radius dynamic of range 12 ofm. The construction of sensor − ± 2000 V m 1. For the estimationsseismometers. we used Signals measurements from theOn hydrophone 2 October 2008 after in the being region ofdigitized the observatory, by 16-order there ADC with 44100 Hz fre- of both channels. was changeable cloudiness with big cumulus clouds. Precip- installation is so that the leveledAcoustic surfaces emission of electric (AE) registration field intensity was carried at out the by measurement a itation was not point observed are fromparallel 14:00 to 19:00 LT (UT + 13 h). hydro-acoustic receiver (hydrophone)quency rate with are the recorded sensitivity ofon a hardFrom adisk cloud of that a appeared PC.