ZT Research

Very high speed video cameras (greater than 5,000 images per second) are changing the way we see lightning. I am Tom A. Warner, and I have been photographing lightning using a Vision Research Phantom v7.1 camera for two years as part of a research effort to better understand upward lightning initiated from towers in Rapid City, South Dakota. Recordings captured using this camera are accomplished at a resolution of 640x480 pixels and a rate of 7,200 images per second. This results in an individual image interval of 139 microseconds (135 microseconds for exposure and 4 microseconds for sensor readout). Features of lightning strikes such as stepped leaders, dart leaders, return strokes, continuing current and recoil leaders are clearly visible. Recoil leaders (fast negative breakdown that propagates back along previously formed positive leader channels) have never been seen before at this short time resolution. The potential that high speed video has for furthering our understanding of lightning is immense.

All videos and images are copyrighted. No reproduction or use is authorized without written approval by Tom A. Warner. The "Investigations" and "Projects" sections of this website are restricted for proprietary purposes.

An example of lightning captured with high speed video. The video above shows multiple stepped leader channels followed by a single return stroke, continuing current and M-components. The flash was captured near Devils Tower, Wyoming on 6/16/07.

More examples of lightning filmed with high speed video