V. Mazur et al., THE RELATIONSHIP OF LEADER AND RETURN STROKE PROCESSES IN CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING, Geophysical research letters, 22(19), 1995, pp. 2613-2616
The unique relationship between the leader and return stroke in cloud-
to-ground flashes and the ambient cloud potential distribution is form
ulated. This relationship in the form of a ratio of an electric field
produced by a leader, Delta E(l), to that of a return stroke, Delta E(
r), is analyzed for two electrostatic leader models, the bi-directiona
l leader and the Schonland ''source charge'' models, and is then compa
red with field measurements. It is found that the Delta E(l)/Delta E(r
) ratios of real flashes fall between the curves of the ratios calcula
ted for the two leader models, with each model representing an extreme
condition of ambient electric field distribution.