Flashes of Brilliance : The Science and Wonder of Arizona Lightning

This book is a comprehensive resource on lightning and describes the unique roles which the state of Arizona has with regard to lightning. Not only is it spectacular, it is also admired, feared, and misunderstood, but its knowledge has come of age in the last two decades. This book describes why Arizona can be called the “Lightning Photography Capital of the U.S.”, how the general public and Native Americans in Arizona have viewed lightning, and when and where lightning occurs and impacts people and resources in Arizona. It contains summaries of interviews with current and former University of Arizona staff who invented real-time lightning detection in the late 1970s and how subsequent lightning research in Arizona has been globally significant. The authors are very well acquainted with and up to date on these topics. The style of this book is active and somewhat scholarly but readable by the nonprofessional with a general interest in lightning. What is lightning? How does lightning affect Arizona? Why do photographers come to Arizona for lightning photographs? What is unique about Arizona lightning? How is lightning detected in Arizona and around the world? This book tells you answers to these questions. This book is intended for a broad audience comprised of visitors, interested lay public, a variety of scientific disciplines, media, medicine, lightning safety, and fire weather. It is suitable for readers desiring a general overview of lightning, especially in Arizona, but also for those who want to know specifically about the topic. Preface Why a Book About Arizona Lightning? How to Spell Lightning? How Did the Idea Develop for This Book? References Acknowledgments Contents Abbreviations and Definitions Lightning Human Impacts Organizations 1 The Scientific Basics of Lightning 1.1 Introduction to the Book 1.2 Lightning Perspectives of the Public 1.3 Lightning Formation in Cumulus Clouds 1.4 Lightning Terminology 1.4.1 Introduction 1.4.2 Negative Cloud-to-Ground Flash 1.4.3 Positive Cloud-to-Ground Flash 1.4.4 Continuing Current 1.4.5 In-Cloud Lightning 1.4.6 Heat Lightning 1.4.7 Transient Luminous Events, Sprites, Jets, and Ball Lightning 1.5 Factors Leading to Lightning in Arizona 1.5.1 Turbulence Due to Daytime Heating 1.5.2 Major Elevation Changes 1.5.3 Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) 1.5.4 Inverted Troughs 1.5.5 Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 1.5.6 Large-Scale Systems 1.5.7 Rainfall References 2 Arizonans’ Fascination and Perspectives About Lightning 2.1 Arizona Topography 2.2 Lightning Perspectives of Native Americans in Arizona 2.2.1 Overview 2.2.2 The Thunderbird 2.2.3 White Mountain Apache 2.2.4 Hopi Artwork at Grand Canyon National Park 2.3 Arizona Sports Teams with Lightning and Thunder 2.4 Arizona’s Fascination with Lightning References 3 Arizona is the Lightning Photography Capital of the U.S 3.1 Landscape, Geographic, and Meteorological Factors 3.2 Examples from Arizona Lightning Photographers 3.2.1 Challenges in Photographing Lightning 3.2.2 Arizona Lightning Photographers 3.3 Lightning Photography 3.3.1 Film 3.3.2 Digital 3.3.3 High Speed 3.3.4 Lightning Trigger References 4 When, Where, and How Much Lightning Occurs in Arizona 4.1 The Monsoon in Arizona 4.2 Lightning Occurrence by Area in Arizona 4.2.1 Ten-Year Maps for State 4.2.2 Ten-Year Densities by County 4.2.3 Ten-Year Maps by City 4.2.4 Comparisons with Other States and Countries 4.2.5 Arizona Lightning Mapping from Satellites 4.3 Lightning Occurrence by Time in Arizona 4.3.1 Year-to-Year Variability 4.3.2 Month-to-Month Variability 4.3.3 Time-of-Day Variability 4.4 Special Topics in Lightning Occurrence 4.4.1 Grand Canyon 4.4.2 Southeast Mountains 4.4.3 Mogollon Rim 4.4.4 Western Desert References 5 Human Impacts, Damages, and Benefits from Lightning in Arizona 5.1 Lightning Deaths and Injuries in Arizona 5.1.1 Annual Fatality Totals, 1926–2021 5.1.2 Decadal Fatality Rates 5.1.3 Month and Hour 5.1.4 Gender and Age 5.1.5 County 5.1.6 Activity and Location 5.1.7 Grand Canyon 5.1.8 Comparisons with Other States and Locations 5.2 Lightning Safety in Arizona 5.2.1 Odds 5.2.2 Mechanisms of Injury 5.2.3 Safe and Unsafe Places 5.2.4 Actions Before and After Thunderstorms 5.3 Lightning Damages in Arizona 5.3.1 Lightning Protection 5.3.2 Storm Data 5.3.3 Decadal Changes in Damage Reports 5.3.4 Monthly and Hourly Variations in Damage Reports 5.3.5 Damage Reports by County 5.3.6 Types of Damages 5.3.7 Costs of Damages 5.3.8 Insurance Losses 5.3.9 Forest Fires 5.3.10 Fulgurites 5.4 Positive Roles of Lightning in Atmospheric NOx Cycle and Global Electric Circuit References 6 How Lightning Detection Networks Were Developed in Arizona 6.1 Invention of Real-time lightning Detection at the University of Arizona 6.2 Overview of Lightning Detection Milestones 6.3 Lightning Detection Development at the University of Arizona 6.4 Lightning Detection Businesses Based on Arizona Technology 6.5 Sensor and Network Development and Deployment References 7 Lightning Research in Arizona 7.1 University of Arizona Lightning Studies Before 2000 7.1.1 Spectroscopy 7.1.2 Kennedy Space Center Lightning Studies 7.1.3 Lightning on Other Planets 7.2 University of Arizona Lightning Studies After 2000 7.2.1 Lightning-Rainfall Studies 7.2.2 Grand Canyon Lightning Studies 7.2.3 Ground Truth Calibration of the NLDN 7.2.4 Optical Studies of Lightning 7.2.5 Kansas Windfarm Project 7.2.6 Lightning Studies from Space 7.2.7 Fulgurites 7.2.8 University of Arizona Lightning Studies by Students 7.3 Other Arizona Lightning Studies 7.3.1 Flagstaff Study 7.3.2 Arizona State University 7.3.3 Observatories 7.3.4 Middle Atmosphere Electrical Phenomena Observed in Arizona 7.4 Interviews 7.4.1 Dr. E. Philp Krider 7.4.1.1 Early Background at the University of Arizona 7.4.1.2 Transition to Kennedy Space Center Studies 7.4.1.3 Early Forest Fire Detection 7.4.1.4 Growth of LLP 7.4.1.5 Die Blitz-Bibel 7.4.1.6 Early Sensor Technology 7.4.1.7 Network Applications 7.4.1.8 Arrival of Cummins 7.4.1.9 Concluding Remarks 7.4.2 Dr. Kenneth L. Cummins 7.4.2.1 Lightning Origination Over Topography 7.4.2.2 Prior to LLP 7.4.2.3 Technology Breakthroughs at LLP 7.4.2.4 Arrival at LLP 7.4.2.5 University of Arizona 7.4.2.6 History 7.4.3 Dr. Richard E. Orville 7.4.3.1 University of Arizona 7.4.3.2 Consulting 7.4.3.3 SUNYA Network 7.4.3.4 Alaska Network 7.4.3.5 Early NLDN References Resources for Further Information What’s so special about lightning in this state? Unique factors make this an appealing topic. First, the sheer beauty and awe of lightning in the clear Arizona skies with mountains, sunsets, and saguaros are impressiveenough. But where, when, and how much lightning happens in Arizona?How dangerous is it? Why is it where it is, and how do we know? This is actually a global story rather than only for Arizona since modern lightning detection systems were invented in Arizona.We will chronicle these stories inthis book.There is a thread that starts with seemingly impractical basic research at the University of Arizona and other locations in Arizona and elsewhere. What developed from this basic research became a resource that is used every day in a myriad of applications and is seen daily on local television news and weather programs, and all types of personal devices around the United States and the world. How did this happen? Who started it, and how did it spread to this extraordinary extent? Despite this amazing advance, the word “lightning” continues to be misspelled frequently (Fig. 1). This book is a resource for understanding why Lightning continues to be a major health hazard, especially in the developing world, and equips researchers, governments, and public health advocates with the knowledge and techniques needed to reduce lightning casualties worldwide.