Campbell Scientific CS110 Overview - Manual

Introduction
Lightning poses a serious threat to both people and equipment in most areas of the world. Although humans
are equipped with fairly good lightning warning sensors (eyes and ears), data from electronic lightning hazard
warning devices have proven valuable in lightning hazard warning.
Electronic lightning warning devices can be grouped into two classes: lightning detectors and electric-field
monitors. Lightning detectors provide information about past lightning flashes, providing advanced warn-
ing of incoming storms. Yet lightning detectors provide no warning until a detectable lightning discharge has
occurred, which may be too late for storms developing overhead.
Electric field monitors provide information about the local atmospheric electric field from which the likelihood
of future lightning flashes can be inferred. Consequently, electric-field monitors can provide warning prior to
the first strike. While electric-field monitors provide warning of incoming storms, lightning detectors are gener-
ally considered superior in this regard because of greater detection range with distance to strike estimates avail-
able in some instruments. As a result, both lightning detectors and electric-field monitors are employed in high-
risk applications.
Atmospheric Electric Field
Electrical charges exert forces on each other; like charges repel and unlike charges attract. An electric force field,
referred to as an electric field, is said to exist around electrical charges. Analogous to a gravitational field g defin-
ing the force F acting on a mass m (g = F/m), the electric field defines the force F acting on a charge q (E = F/q).
CS110 Electric Field Meter Overview
Sealed Connectors
Case Lid
Recipricating Shutter
Stator
Ground Lug
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