[Lowfer] AMRAD Vertical - lightning

[Ed Phillips]

Mitch Powell wrote:
> 
> >
> > A more practical way to detect lightning is to measure the change in
> > the local electrical field.  There is at least one lightning detection
> > system for aircraft which consists of four vertical rods connected, in
> > effect, to the four deflection plates of a CRT.  When a lightning strike
> > occurs the spot will be deflected in a direction corresponding to the
> > stroke, by an amount proportional to the voltage change.  I haven't seen
> > a detailed description of the equipment, but am almost sure it doesn't
> > really use such a CRT.  Watson-Watt, a British radar pioneer (the
> > inventor of radar if you listen to his words - he wasn't) got started in
> > the subject in the 1920's (National Physical Lab, I think) using
> > primitive CRT's in exactly this arrangement.
> 
> Ed - I remember an article in a Scientific American magazine - quite  a few
> years ago - I believe it was "Amateur Scoientist" column, which had
> schematics and info on just such a system. I remember it as being very
> simple and  straight-forward...... but unfortunately have no idea of
> the Volume/Year/etc.
> It used an old CRT ( like 5BP1) or that sort of thing, and an amplifier for
> each deflection plate - and a bit of an antenna.
> 
> Not much help - but maybe will help trigger someone else's memory..... It
> even showed the direction ! ! !
> 
> 73
> Mitch VE3OT

	I thought I'd read every one of those columns and I don't remember this
one, but will search my "Amateur Scientist" CD ROM for it.  It would
certainly have been possible.

Ed