Polarized lightning arrestors

1. A method, comprising:

at or about a site, sensing one or more of a lightning step leader descending from and/or an upward earth streamer ascending toward an atmospheric charge accumulation;

providing a risk assessment of a lightning strike at or about the site based on results of the sensing;

providing a prioritization of protection from a lightning strike for a portion of the site; and

reconfiguring an arrangement of one or more lightning protection elements disposed at or about the site in response to the risk assessment of a lightning strike, wherein reconfiguring the arrangement of one or more lightning protection elements disposed at or about the site is further performed in response to the prioritization of protection;

wherein the arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises a plurality of lightning arrestors;

wherein a first of the lightning arrestors and a second of the lightning arrestors are spaced less than a critical distance apart so that zones of protection of the first and second lightning arrestors overlap;

wherein providing a prioritization of protection from a lightning strike for a portion of the site comprises providing a spatial variation in a voltage biasing of the lightning arrestors; and

wherein reconfiguring the arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors to provide the spatial variation in the voltage biasing of the lightning arrestors.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement of one or more lightning protection elements comprise one or more adjustable-height lightning arrestors, and wherein reconfiguring the arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises adjusting the heights of the lightning arrestors in response to the risk assessment of a lightning strike.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing a first of the lightning arrestors to a non-zero potential relative to a local ground potential.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing the plurality of lightning arrestors to establish a potential gradient across the plurality of lightning arrestors.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing a first of the lightning arrestors to a potential that is below a corona discharge limit.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises connecting a first of the lightning arrestors to an EMF source.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises connecting a first of the lightning arrestors to a capacitor and/or a voltage amplifier.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors connecting a first of the lightning arrestors to a photovoltaic array.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lightning arrestors has a rod-, a rope-, a cable-, a wire-, a netting-, a strip-, a plate-, a panel-, a wall-, and/or an extended surface-shape.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lightning arrestors is arranged to emit charges substantially non-directionally.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lightning arrestors is arranged to emit charges substantially directionally.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing a first of the lightning arrestors to a positive potential and biasing a second of the lightning arrestors to a negative potential.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing a first of the lightning arrestors to a positive potential relative to a site potential, and biasing a second of the lightning arrestors to a negative potential relative to the site potential.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing a sequence of lightning arrestors positively and negatively.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing a sequence of lightning arrestors positively and negatively with respect to a site potential.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a risk assessment of a lightning strike comprises sensing a weather condition, a site potential value, and/or a geopotential value.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises biasing a first of the lightning arrestors in response to a sensed weather condition and/or an anticipated weather condition.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors comprises preparing a conducting path from an overhead charge accumulation to ground.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein sensing one or more of a lightning step leader descending from and/or an upward earth streamer ascending toward the atmospheric charge accumulation comprises sensing a strength, a location, a direction, and/or timing of the lightning step leader, the upward earth streamer, and/or the atmospheric charge accumulation.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein reconfiguring an arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere in response to a sensed step leader and/or upward earth streamer.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the charge conductive path comprises excited molecules and/or ionized molecules.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground in response to a detected step leader and/or upward earth streamer.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground and allowing charges in the atmospheric charge accumulation to dissipate through the charge conductive path.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path comprises preparing 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.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path comprises preparing a charge conductive path whose position and/or direction is responsive to a location of the atmospheric charge accumulation.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground and preparing a charge conductive path with a sufficiently remote ground termination point to avoid a direct lightning strike at a site.

27. The method of claim 20 , further comprising sensing a start of a main or return lightning stroke.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground and preparing a charge conductive path in response to the start of a main or lightning return stroke.

29. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises firing a laser beam through the atmosphere.

30. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground and injecting charges in the atmosphere.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein injecting charges in the atmosphere comprises injecting charges substantially directionally.

32. The method of claim 20 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground and injecting charges in the ground.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein injecting charges in the ground comprises injecting charges substantially about a ground termination location of the charge conductive path.

34. The method of claim 1 , wherein reconfiguring an arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises altering a ground potential in response to a detected step leader and/or upward earth streamer.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein altering a ground potential comprises injecting charges in the ground.

36. The method of claim 34 , wherein altering a ground potential comprises injecting charges in the ground to direct a lightning strike away from a site.

37. The method of claim 36 , wherein altering a ground potential comprises injecting charges at about a selected ground termination location for a lightning strike.

38. A method, comprising:

at or about a site, sensing one or more of a lightning step leader descending from and/or an upward earth streamer ascending toward an atmospheric charge accumulation;

providing a risk assessment of a lightning strike at or about the site based on results of the sensing;

providing a prioritization of protection from a lightning strike for a portion of the site;

reconfiguring an arrangement of one or more lightning protection elements disposed at or about the site in response to the risk assessment and the prioritization of protection;

wherein the arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises a plurality of lightning arrestors;

wherein providing a prioritization of protection from a lightning strike for a portion of the site comprises providing a spatial variation in a voltage biasing of the lightning arrestors; and

wherein reconfiguring the arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises biasing at least one of the lightning arrestors to a different voltage than the other lightning arrestors to provide the spatial variation in the voltage biasing of the lightning arrestors.

39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the arrangement of one or more lightning protection elements comprises one or more adjustable-height lightning arrestors, and wherein reconfiguring the arrangement of lightning protection elements comprises adjusting the heights of the lightning arrestors in response to the risk assessment of a lightning strike.

40. The method of claim 38 , wherein providing a risk assessment of a lightning strike comprises sensing a weather condition, a site potential value, and/or a geopotential value.

41. The method of claim 38 , wherein sensing one or more of a lightning step leader descending from and/or an upward earth streamer ascending toward the atmospheric charge accumulation comprises sensing a strength, a location, a direction, and/or timing of the lightning step leader, the upward earth streamer, and/or the atmospheric charge accumulation.