Editing Lightning (section)

=== Artificial triggering ===
* '''Rocket-triggered''' 
*: Lightning can be "triggered" by launching [[lightning rocket|specially designed rockets]] trailing spools of wire into thunderstorms. The wire unwinds as the rocket ascends, creating an elevated ground that can attract descending leaders. If a leader attaches, the wire provides a low-resistance pathway for a lightning flash to occur. The wire is vaporized by the return current flow, creating a straight lightning plasma channel in its place. This method allows for scientific research of lightning to occur under a more controlled and predictable manner.<ref name="vid">{{cite web|url=http://skydiary.com/gallery/chase2002/2002lightmovie.html|title=Triggered lightning video|access-date=September 24, 2007|publisher=Chris Kridler's Sky Diary|date=July 25, 2002|author=Kridler, Chris|work=requires QuickTime|format=video|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915074527/http://skydiary.com/gallery/chase2002/2002lightmovie.html|archive-date=September 15, 2007}}</ref> The International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, Florida typically uses rocket triggered lightning in their research studies.
* '''Laser-triggered'''
*: Since the 1970s,<ref name="since the 1970s"/> researchers have attempted to trigger lightning strikes by means of infrared or ultraviolet lasers, which create a channel of ionized gas through which the lightning would be conducted to ground. Such triggering of lightning is intended to protect rocket launching pads, electric power facilities, and other sensitive targets.<ref>{{cite web | title = UNM researchers use lasers to guide lightning| publisher = Campus News, The [[University of New Mexico]]| date = January 29, 2001| url = http://panda.unm.edu/AcadAdv/lightning.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120709023513/http://panda.unm.edu/AcadAdv/lightning.html | archive-date = July 9, 2012 | access-date = July 28, 2007}}</ref><ref name="njop">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1088/1367-2630/4/1/361| title = Laser-triggered lightning discharge| journal = New Journal of Physics| volume = 4| issue = 1| page = 61| year = 2002| last1 = Khan | first1 = N. | last2 = Mariun | first2 = N. | last3 = Aris | first3 = I. | last4 = Yeak | first4 = J. |bibcode = 2002NJPh....4...61K | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="joot">{{Cite journal |doi=10.1364/JOT.66.000194 |title=Laboratory tests of laser-induced lightning discharge |journal=Journal of Optical Technology |volume=66 |issue=3 |pages=194–198 |date=1999 |first1=P. |last1=Rambo |first2=J. |last2=Biegert |first3=V. |last3=Kubecek |first4=J. |last4=Schwarz |first5=A. |last5=Bernstein |first6=J.-C. |last6=Diels |first7=R. |last7=Bernstein |name-list-style=amp |first8=K. |last8=Stahlkopf |bibcode=1999JOptT..66..194R }}</ref><ref name="apl">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1063/1.1829165| title = Triggering and guiding of megavolt discharges by laser-induced filaments under rain conditions| journal = Applied Physics Letters| volume = 85| issue = 23| page = 5781| year = 2004| last1 = Ackermann | first1 = R.| last2 = Stelmaszczyk | first2 = K.| last3 = Rohwetter | first3 = P.| last4 = MéJean | first4 = G.| last5 = Salmon | first5 = E.| last6 = Yu | first6 = J.| last7 = Kasparian | first7 = J.| last8 = MéChain | first8 = G.| last9 = Bergmann | first9 = V.| last10 = Schaper | first10 = S.| last11 = Weise | first11 = B.| last12 = Kumm | first12 = T.| last13 = Rethmeier | first13 = K.| last14 = Kalkner | first14 = W.| last15 = WöSte | first15 = L.| last16 = Wolf | first16 = J. P.|bibcode = 2004ApPhL..85.5781A }}</ref><ref name="osaka">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/0021-9169(94)00073-W| title = A possible way to trigger lightning using a laser| journal = Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics| volume = 57| issue = 5| page = 459| year = 1995| last1 = Wang | first1 = D.| last2 = Ushio | first2 = T.| last3 = Kawasaki | first3 = Z. -I. | last4 = Matsuura | first4 = K.| last5 = Shimada | first5 = Y.| last6 = Uchida | first6 = S.| last7 = Yamanaka | first7 = C.| last8 = Izawa | first8 = Y.| last9 = Sonoi | first9 = Y.| last10 = Simokura | first10 = N.|bibcode = 1995JATP...57..459W }}</ref>
*: In New Mexico, U.S., scientists tested a new [[terawatt]] laser which provoked lightning. Scientists fired ultra-fast pulses from an extremely powerful laser thus sending several terawatts into the clouds to call down electrical discharges in storm clouds over the region. The laser beams sent from the laser make channels of ionized molecules known as ''filaments''. Before the lightning strikes earth, the filaments lead electricity through the clouds, playing the role of lightning rods. Researchers generated filaments that lived a period too short to trigger a real lightning strike. Nevertheless, a boost in electrical activity within the clouds was registered. According to the French and German scientists who ran the experiment, the fast pulses sent from the laser will be able to provoke lightning strikes on demand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://infoniac.com/science/terawatt-laser-beam-shot-clouds-provokes-lightning-strike.html |title=Terawatt Laser Beam Shot in the Clouds Provokes Lightning Strike |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420130439/http://infoniac.com/science/terawatt-laser-beam-shot-clouds-provokes-lightning-strike.html |archive-date=April 20, 2008  |access-date=April 17, 2008 }} News report based on: {{Cite journal | doi = 10.1364/OE.16.005757 | pmid = 18542684 | title = Electric events synchronized with laser filaments in thunderclouds | journal = Optics Express | volume = 16 | issue = 8 | pages = 5757–63 | year = 2008 | last1 = Kasparian | first1 = J. | last2 = Ackermann | first2 = R. | last3 = André | first3 = Y. B. | last4 = Méchain | first4 = G. G. | last5 = Méjean | first5 = G. | last6 = Prade | first6 = B. | last7 = Rohwetter | first7 = P. | last8 = Salmon | first8 = E. | last9 = Stelmaszczyk | first9 = K. | last10 = Yu | first10 = J. | last11 = Mysyrowicz | first11 = A. | last12 = Sauerbrey | first12 = R. | last13 = Woeste | first13 = L. | last14 = Wolf | first14 = J. P. | bibcode = 2008OExpr..16.5757K | url = https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-16-8-5757 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Statistical analysis showed that their laser pulses indeed enhanced the electrical activity in the thundercloud where it was aimed—in effect they generated small local discharges located at the position of the [[plasma channel]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newswise.com/articles/view/539709/ |title=Laser Triggers Electrical Activity in Thunderstorm for the First Time |work=Newswise |access-date=August 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220100906/http://newswise.com/articles/view/539709/ |archive-date=December 20, 2008  }} News report based on {{Harvard citation no brackets|Kasparian|Ackermann|André|Méchain|Méjean|Prade|Rohwetter|Salmon|Stelmaszczyk|Yu|Mysyrowicz|Sauerbrey|Woeste|Wolf|2008|pp=5757–5763}}</ref>