2026/07/13 by Martin Kákona, M. Kákona, R. Duspara +24
Environmental Science · Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · #Atmospheric electricity #Burn Injury Management and Outcomes #Fire effects on ecosystems #Lightning (connector) #Lightning and Electromagnetic Phenomena #Lightning strike #Storm #Upper-atmospheric lightning #Wind power
paper · doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109162
openalex created_date 2025/12/10 · openalex publication_date 2026/07/13 · crossref created 2026/07/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22 · crossref deposited 2026/08/06 · crossref indexed 2026/08/06 · crossref issued 2026/12/01 · crossref published 2026/12/01 · crossref published-print 2026/12/01
We report systematic evidence for a statistically distinguishable subset of cold-season lightning episodes in Central Europe that shows a distinct and recurrent association with wind turbines. Using Blitzortung stroke data from 2021 to 2024, ENTLN classifications from 2023, and local electric-field measurements, we identify episodes in which lightning activity is concentrated near wind turbines, detected cloud-to-ground strikes are consistently of negative polarity, and the cloud region passing the turbines exhibits a strongly negative electric field measured at the ground. These findings have implications both for understanding cold-season lightning processes and for assessing turbine-related lightning risk.