Lightning is a gorgeous, but very dangerous phenomenon. We will pass over its effects on human beings to focus on those it has in everyday life and the devices we use. Many fires that occur during thunderstorms are caused by lightning. Lightning can also destroy electrical and electronic equipment. Therefore, the use of lightning rods and lightning arrestors is widespread. But there are more efficient devices that can predict lightning. These are lightning detectors. But what are the different detection techniques?
Detection technologies
Here, there is no question of devices used by most people. Lightning detectors are useless for non-specialists. Simple lightning detectors to avoid the unpleasant consequences of lightning are more than enough. These highly technological devices are mainly used by meteorologists and climate specialists.
- Field mill
Sensors based on this technology measure the static field. They can thus detect clouds with high electrical charge, precursors of lightning. In terms of sophistication, field mills are certainly the least complex detectors. This does not mean that they are obsolete. NASA, for example, uses field mills to program its flights.
- Directional antennas
More advanced than the previous ones, these detectors are equipped with several antennas, to be more precise, three antennas. Two are orthogonal in vertical position and one is in horizontal position. The device is also equipped with a magneto goniometer that quickly and accurately detects any electric field produced by lightning.
- Satellites
From a technological point of view, they are the most efficient detectors. Speaking of satellites, a satellite never fills this task alone. A satellite with sensors is in permanent connection with other geostationary satellites. They are at different altitudes. The aim of the sensor satellite is to fix all the light flashes generated by storms. Even if in the end the lightning remains imperceptible, at least, for the human eye, it will not escape the satellite detection.