Systems and methods for protecting a site from lightning strikes
Systems and methods for dynamically defending a site from lightning strikes are provided. The systems and methods involve dynamically altering electrostatic fields above the site and/or dynamically intervening in lightning discharges processes in the vicinity of the site.
1. A system, comprising:
a sensor arranged to detect a lightning step leader descending from and/or an upward earth streamer ascending toward an atmospheric charge accumulation; and
a device coupled to the sensor and arranged to prepare a charge conductive path through the atmosphere in response to a detected step leader and/or an upward earth streamer.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charge conductive path comprises excited molecules and/or ionized molecules.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is arranged to create a charge conductive path which allows charges in the atmospheric charge accumulation to dissipate.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is arranged to prepare a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground in response to a detected step leader and/or upward earth streamer.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is arranged to prepare a charge conductive path whose position and/or direction is responsive to a location and/or direction of the detected step leader and/or the detected upward earth streamer.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is arranged to prepare a charge conductive path whose position and/or direction is responsive to a location the atmospheric charge accumulation.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is deployed to protect a site, and wherein a ground termination point of the charge conductive path is sufficiently remote to avoid a direct lightning strike at the site.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is further configured to detect a start of a main or return lightning stroke.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is arranged to create the charge conductive path in response to a detected start of a main or return lightning stroke.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device arranged to create a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises a laser.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the laser is arranged to emit a light beam through the atmosphere.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a charge-emitting device configured to inject charges in the atmosphere.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the charge-emitting device is configured to emit charges substantially directionally.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a charge-emitting device configured to inject charges in the ground.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the device arranged to inject charge at about a ground termination location of the charge conductive path.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device arranged to create a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises a capacitor.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device arranged to create a charge conductive path through the atmosphere further comprises a circuit configured to fire a capacitor.
18. A method, comprising:
sensing a lightning step leader leaving an atmospheric charge accumulation and/or sensing an upward earth streamer; and
preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere in response to a sensed step leader and/or upward earth streamer.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the charge conductive path comprises excited molecules and/or ionized molecules.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path to ground in response to a sensed step leader and/or upward earth streamer.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises allowing charges in the atmospheric charge accumulation to dissipate through the charge conductive path.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing the charge conductive path with a sufficiently remote ground termination point to avoid a direct lightning strike at a site.
23. The method of claim 18 , further comprising sensing a start of a main or return lightning stroke.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing the charge conductive path in response to a start of a main or lightning return stroke.
25. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises firing a laser beam through the atmosphere.
26. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground comprises injecting charges in the atmosphere.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein injecting charges in the atmosphere comprises injecting charges substantially directionally.
28. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground comprises injecting charges in the ground.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein injecting charges in the ground comprises injecting charges substantially about a ground termination location of the charge conductive path.
30. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises firing a capacitor.
31. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises injecting charge into ground.