Glow corona generation and streamer inception at the tip of grounded objects during thunderstorms: revisited

The initiation of streamers prior to a lightning strike can be reportedly inhibited by glow corona discharges generated from tall objects. In contrast to previous studies based on a simplified one-dimensional model of glow corona, a two-dimensional evaluation of the corona ion drift from tall objects is used here to analyse this effect quantitatively. Proper estimates for the corona space charge distribution generated during both the charging process of a thundercloud and the descent of the downward stepped leader are thus calculated. It is found that the shielding effect of the corona space charge on the streamer inception is not as severe as previously reported. Estimations of the effective height of the downward leader tip at which streamer inception takes place are presented and discussed for lightning rods and dissipation array systems.