Conduction characteristics of lightning dart leader channel and its influence on the corresponding return stroke discharge intensity

Conductivity characteristics of lightning dart leader channel significantly affect the discharge features of the following return stroke process. Based on spectral quantitative analysis, the electrical conductivity, electron density of the dart leader, and the corresponding subsequent return stroke plasma were investigated, and their changes along the height of the discharge channel were calculated; furthermore, the effects of the conduction characteristics of the dart leader channel on the return stroke discharge intensity were investigated. The results indicated that the electrical conductivity distribution along the height of the return stroke channel was approximately consistent with that of the corresponding dart leader; there was a good linear correlation between the electron density of the dart leader tip as it approaches the ground and the bottom of the return stroke channel. It was inferred that the electron density in the dart leader tip is positively correlated with the discharge intensity of the return stroke.