Electromagnetic Pulses Produced by Bouncing-Wave-Type Lightning Discharges

Based on experimental evidence of multiple reflections and modeling, we infer that the so-called compact intracloud lightning discharge (CID) is essentially a bouncing-wave phenomenon. Some tens of reflections may occur at both radiating-channel ends. The reflections have little influence on the overall CID electric field signature (narrow bipolar pulse (NBP) waveform), but are responsible for its fine structure, ldquonoisinessrdquo of d E/dt waveforms, and accompanying HF-VHF radiation bursts.