An Examination of the Multi-Peaked Analytically Extended Function for Approximation of Lightning Channel-Base Currents

TL;DR

This paper introduces a multi-peaked analytically extended function (AEF) for better approximation of complex lightning channel-base currents, providing a parameter estimation framework using the Marquardt least-squares method.

Contribution

It presents a novel multi-peaked AEF model and a general parameter estimation framework applicable to various lightning current wave-forms.

Findings

The multi-peaked AEF effectively models complex lightning currents.

The parameter estimation framework is versatile for different wave-forms.

Discussion of advantages and disadvantages of the approach.

Abstract

A multi-peaked version of the analytically extended function (AEF) intended for approximation of multi-peaked lightning current wave-forms will be presented along with some of its basic properties. A general framework for estimating the parameters of the AEF using the Marquardt least-squares method (MLSM) for a waveform with an arbitrary (finite) number of peaks as well as a given charge trans-fer and specific energy will also be described. This framework is used to find parameters for some common single-peak wave-forms and some advantages and disadvantages of the approach will be discussed.