Modeling the Neuruppin Ball Lightning Incident

Abstract

In 1994, a 370-kA positive cloud-to-ground (CG) discharge 5 km east of Neuruppin, Germany was immediately followed by the production of at least ten ball lightning objects seen by numerous eyewitnesses. We propose a sequence of events based on observations of upward lightning triggered by CG flashes which can explain how a large ground-level electric field (~1 MV m-1) could be produced by negative leaders extending into a region of positive charge above Neuruppin. This model provides a causal link between the large CG discharge east of Neuruppin and the large ground-level fields which were associated with the production of ball lightning. Recommendations follow for producing ball lightning in a large laboratory experiment.

Keywords: ball lightning, triggered lightning, Neuruppin, multiple ball lightning