Research of Gaopeng Lu at Langmuir Laboratory
Supervised by William P. Winn.

 

Instrumentations

NO.2004SUMMER - now: Field projects of launching balloon-borne instrumetn (Esonde) to measure electric field inside New Mexico thunderstorms.

NO.2004SUMMER: Participate in the coordinated field project of laser-triggered lightning (not successful)

NO.2006SUMMER: Captured a daytime video of an upward positive junction leader (the analysis is being converted into a publication).

NO.2007SUMMER: Video imaing system of red sprites over New Mexico thunderstorms (along with an audio recording system) (in progression).

NO.2007MAIN: Integration of Hybrid of E-100 field mill and slow antenna (accomplished in the summer of 2007). This apparatus is able to collect electric field and electric field change data simultaneously.

 

Data Analysis


NO.2005FALL: Develop a least-squares optimization model to study the detailed charge transfer in intracloud flashes. (to be present in the dissertation for Ph.D. degree)

NO.2007FALL: Calibration of the new instrument (Eturtle). (accomplished)

NO.2007FALL: Develop a least-squares optimization method to estimate two componetns of the horizontal thunderstorm electric field from Esonde data. (accomplished with the help of Dr. Hager, from Mathematics Department, University of Florida)

 

Numerical Modeling

NO.2007SPRING: Calibartion factors of Esonde through finite element analysis based upon COMSOL 3.2 software (accomplished).

NO.2006SUMMER: Induction field driven by specific lightning processes (stepped/dart leader, return stroke, and continuing current discharges, etc.) using transmission line model and the complete Maxwell's equations (with COMSOL) (in long-period of progression)

NO.2007FALL: Evaluate the potential of intracloud lightning in triggering red sprites and blue jets (in long-period of progression).

 

Other interests

NO.2005SUMMER: Self-motivated study of gamma-ray burst associated with tropospheric lightning (now probe the possible relationship between these events with cloud discharges located by NLDN).

NO.2005SUMMER: Lightning initation involving high-energy cosmic ray (in long-period of progression).

NO.2006SPRING: Explore the possible role of induction field in the initation of red sprites (in long-period of progression)

NO.2007SUMMER: Classification of cloud discharges located by NLDN with LMA data (accomplished).

NO.2007FALL: Compare different charging mechanisms with radar reflectivity data and LMA data (to be present in dissertation).


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