Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
The transmission-line model previously developed for the leader stroke is applied to the return-stroke of a lightning channel. The charge stored in the corona is converted into current, by a discharge wave. The dependence of propagation velocity on coronal charge and radius leads to front steepening and the development of a jump discontinuity or electromagnetic shock in a finite time.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Baum et al. (1987) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: