The influence of artificial-thunderstorm cell polarity on discharge initiation by model hydrometeor arrays

The initiation of discharge by model hydrometeors between an artificial-thunderstorm cell (aerosol cloud) of negative or positive polarity and ground has been experimentally studied. It is established for the first time that the conditions of cloud–ground spark discharge initiation by hydrometeors, as well as the characteristics of discharge significantly depend on the polarity of charged cloud. The effect of hydrometeor arrays can be manifested by the cloud–ground lightning initiated in a thundercloud and used for developing scientific principles of artificial lightning discharge.