Summary of Lightning Research for Summer of 2008
Wessley Lamoreaux and Justin Silkwood researched lightning at Southwestern Oklahoma University in the Summer of 2008. Dr. Tony Stein (SWOSU Physics) advised and led their project. In addition, Dr. Bill Beasley from the University of Oklahoma provided invaluable assistance and guidance. This project was funded with a NASA/EPSCor grant.
Diary
June 9 – 13: Performed literature search and studied the general phenomenon of lightning and sprite lightning in particular.
June 16–20: Continued literature search and scouted for suitable locations to set up sprite camera observatory. Tried to photograph a lightning strike, but the storm was too close.
June 23–27: Decided that most realistic goal for summer research project was to design and build a lightning detector(s) that measured the changes in the electric and magnetic fields induced by lighting from nearby storms. Researched best design for detector.
June 30–July 3: No nearby storms. Settled on design for a VLF (Very Low Frequency) magnetic field detector and ordered parts.
July 7–11: Consulted with Dr. Beasley who suggested that they also build an electric plate capacitor lightning detector. Began building first detector and ordered parts for second. Students practiced soldering and made first attempts at building and testing first circuit. Soldering and testing circuit turned out to be more difficult then expected.
July 14–18: Students continued practicing soldering and testing their circuits. Tracked down problems testing circuit including determining that they were using a noisy power supply. Attempted to build electric field detector that Dr. Beasley suggested.
July 21–25: Lighter week since Dr. Stein was presenting a poster in Edmonton. Students tried again, unsuccessfully to photograph some local lighting. Reexamined circuit and diagrams. Researched again to see if there was a better approach to building the magnetic field detector.
August 4–8: Used experience gain in previous attempt to rebuild electric field detector circuit from scratch. Visited Dr. Bill Beasley with detector circuit. Dr. Beasley attached the attached the circuit to his antenna and tested it. It worked perfectly. Dr. Beasley thought that they did well. Consulted with Dr. Beasley about techniques to video storms more effectively. Worked on the design and completion of the rest of antenna to attach to the detector.
August 11–15: Researched and bought a better oscilloscope and power supply to power and measure their circuit by. Completed antenna and tested it.
Pictures
