HF Lightning Observations in the Upper Volga Region of Russia

Much of the information for studying the processes of lightning discharge initiation and development is provided by studying thundercloud radio emissions in various frequency bands. The High-Frequency (HF) band better corresponds to the characteristic scales of lightning development but has been undeservedly forgotten and is used quite rarely. Based on observations carried out in the Upper Volga region it is shown that the intensity of HF radio emissions from lightning is high enough to be reliably recorded in nearby thunderstorms. It is found that at all stages of lightning development the intensity of its radio emission in the HF band up to 10 MHz exceeds the average background intensity significantly. The amplitudes of lightning pulses exceed the background level more significantly, up to 60 dB and more. The feasibility of using the HF band for lightning observations including tracing the direction of arrival of a radio emission is clearly demonstrated.