Lightning Protection
We'll go over this in much more detail in class, but I thought a few images and links will help you get a jump on the lesson.
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| Some of the materials used in lightning protection. | Left: 32-strand copper
(17-gauge).
Right: smaller 14-strand (17-gauge) for laterals limbs & terminal portion of tree. |
Copper nails | Left: Air Terminal.
Right: connectors |
Don't be surprised to find a small crater above the ground rod. The intense heat generated during a discharge causes a "steam explosion" leaving a hole above the ground rod. Hoo-boy! On a more serious note, this may also cause damage to roots located around 15 inches from the ground rod.
These guys are responsible for setting the standards:
Links:
Lightning Protection Installation. Here's a great article on installation of lightning protection systems in trees from the Society of Municipal Arborists.
Automatic Lightning Protection. Here's a company with a pretty nice web page describing the different components that go into lightning protection.
Lightning and Atmospheric Electricity. NASA (of course NASA puts out an excellent site on the "Lightning Primer").
National Lightning Safety Institute. Better turn your speakers down before clicking this link.
Telematic. Another company with some interesting information on how lightning strikes occur.
USA Today's Weather Basics explaining how lightning strikes.
Just in case you are struck by lightning, you may these sites useful:
Lightning
Strike Survivors Home Page.
Thanks to Bartlett Tree Experts and the Independent Protection Company for the donation of Lightning Protection materials used in the classroom.
Thanks also to .