Lightning warning systems

Previous chapters have dealt primarily with lightning protection of buildings, power systems and equipment, and principally from the point of view of minimizing or avoiding direct or induced damage from direct or nearby lightning strikes. In this chapter, we change the focus to discuss primarily lightning protection of people through providing advance notice of the threat of lightning. Although the primary focus of this chapter is on human safety in the presence of lightning, this material also has relevance in other areas of lightning protection and avoidance. For example, even though modern aircraft are capable of withstanding a triggered lightning discharge, other hazards posed by thunderstorms are a more serious threat. Examples are the severe thunderstorm downdrafts that may be encountered by aircraft upon take-off or landing and the icing and turbulence associated with the clouds aloft. In addition, the whole class of lightning protection methods known as ‘active protection’ is based on shutting down sensitive systems or processes in advance of the presence of lightning.