Nucci, C. A.Diendorfer, G.Uman, M. A.Rachidi, F.Ianoz, M.Mazzetti, C.2007-04-042007-04-042007-04-04199010.1029/JD095iD12p20395https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/4356WOS:A1990EL02200003Compares five lightning return stroke current models that exhibit a simple relationship between the current at the return stroke channel-base and the current along the return stroke channel, namely the Bruce-Golde (BG) model, the transmission line (TL) model, the Master, Uman, Lin, and Standler (MULS) model, the Traveling Current Source (TCS) model, and the Modified Transmission Line (MTL) model, by assuming a common current wave shape at the channel base and then calculating the channel currents and charges and the resultant electric and magnetic fields. Two characteristics distinguish the models: the treatment of the return stroke wave front, and the spatial and temporal distribution of charge removed from the leader channel. The TL model is unrealistic for long-time field calculations owing to the fact that no net charge is removed from the channel. The other four models produce overall fields which are reasonable approximations to measured fields from natural lightningatmospheric radiationatmosphericslightningmeteorologyreturn stroke channel electric currentatmosphericsBruce-Golde modeltransmission line modelMaster-Uman-Lin-Standler modellightning EM fieldsTravelling Current Source modelModified Transmission Line modelelectric fieldscharge removal spatial distributionclose-range magnetic field humppeak electric field derivativeelectric current derivativespecified channel-base currentlightning return stroke current modelsreturn stroke channel-basecurrent wave shapemagnetic fieldsreturn stroke wave fronttemporal distributionleader channellong-time field calculationnatural lightning0 to 12 kA0 to 10 mus0 to 100 mus0 to 7 km0 to 45 muT50 to 5000 mtext::journal::journal article::research article