An integrated three-dimensional sensor for the electric field changes produced by lightning discharges

In this paper, an integrated three-dimensional sensor for simultaneously measuring horizontal and vertical electric fields is developed. Some aspects for improving performance of the sensor are described. The electric fields associated with lightning occurring at distances from less than 1 km to around 10 km. The parameters of the negative return stroke electric field waveforms are examined. The influence of the sensor structure is tested by a bounded wave simulator and high voltage impulse excitation source in laboratory, the vertical electric field component contaminating the output of this sensor was only less than about 1%.