Facing the storm, he led the thunder to his side ...

Text ｜ "China Science News" reporter Gao Yali

Jiang Rubin (right) is installing artificial mine -induced equipment. Interviewee confidence

In September, the first northern northern was cool. Jiang Rubin, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (hereinafter referred to as atmospheric physics) of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (hereinafter referred to as atmospheric Physics Institute, returned to Beijing from the experimental venue in Binzhou, Shandong.

Since 2009, Jiang Rubin has lived a migratory bird. As a "leader", his job is to start with storm and find scientific laws in the unpredictable thunderbolt.

"Naturally, thunder and lightning is actually weird and unpredictable, but thunder is the command. My job is to make friends with Thunderbolt. This is difficult. I will treat this goal as a lifetime pursuit." Say.

Lei Lei is a detailed work

"At present, the sky has formed a thunderstorm cloud with charge, and the electric field has been significantly enhanced, and prepared." Jiang Rubin stared nervously at the data change in front of the computer screen in the viewing control room of the rocket launch field.

The timing is mature, with a instruction, a 2.4 kg of thunderous rocket ignition fire, which rises at a speed of about 190 meters per second.

A few seconds later, with thunder, a light reached the ground, and Lei was "leading down."

With a little "thrilling stimulus" scene, Jiang Rubin has been accustomed to it.

The associative with Thunderbolt was taken the initiative to choose. He studied undergraduate at the atmospheric science of Sun Yat -sen University. He graduated from the senior year and he got the opportunity to pay for graduate students.

"The Institute of Atmospheric Physics has proposed two research directions: atmospheric chemistry or lightning. The southern lightning disasters are serious, and I have a strong interest in physics, so I chose the Thunderbolt research team." Jiang Rubin said.

As soon as he was studying at the Institute of Physics for a year, he got the opportunity to conduct field trials in Binzhou, Shandong. As a novice to enter the industry, Jiang Rubin will take the lead in artificially led the mine.

Artificial lightning technology is usually called "Rocket -Drag Line Artificial Lines". One of the most critical parts is the Thunder Rockets, "this is a detailed work."

The tail of the small rocket is fixed with a line axis, and the thread shaft is a few hundred meters long fine steel wire, and one end of the steel wire is fixed on the ground. As the rocket rises, the steel wire is quickly stretched out, and a straight ground metal channel will be formed.

However, the thunder rocket can only fly to a few hundred meters, and the charging area of ​​thunderstorms is generally above a height of a few kilometers.

During the stretching of the wire, the top of the top will produce a significant cutting -edge effect, resulting in severe distorted the local electric field to penetrate the air. Therefore, the tip of the steel wire forms a upward discharge channel, which quickly develops into the charged area of ​​thunderstorms. The "bridge" between discharge.

"Artificial lightning experiments involve many details. For example, when connecting to the ground drainage rod, the steel wire extended on the rocket axis will be exposed to the air and it is easy to rust. It ’s so. So, we will carefully brush a layer of paint on the wire." Jiang Rubin said.

Unfortunately, the first time Jiang Ribin was out of the field, he suddenly appeared appendicitis and did not participate in the experiment throughout the process. "Nevertheless, I have experienced the preparation of venue preparation, lightning facilities and observation instruments, and experimental operations. These fresh experiences are very valuable, and I have learned a lot."

Thunder is the command

"From May to August each year, the large -scale strong convection weather process in Binzhou, Shandong, and a certain representative weather system, so we set up field trials here." Jiang Rubin said.

Lightning is destructive and dangerous. The design of artificial lightning test requires these factors to ensure relatively safe. For example, the choice of the site should be as far away from the dense areas of personnel such as towns, villages, etc., and a distance of one kilometer or farther from the high -voltage line. The most important thing is the protection of the control room. Shield the body, and at the same time to achieve good grounding. "

For "leaders", thunder is the command. During the field of field trials, as long as thunder is heard, you must devote yourself to the test observation.

More than ten years ago, the leddy field was located in a relatively open cotton. Due to the limitation of conditions at the time, Jiang Rubin and the test companion could only carry the camera and test observation equipment, and used the walking method to the pilot base.

"Once the weather was charged in the early stage of the weather, there was no lightning, and there was no lightning. The strength of the atmospheric electric field detected on the ground was also very weak. It was always in a state of cloud precipitation. Suddenly enhanced, and at the same time, there were a few stuffy thunder. We must start immediately. "Jiang Rubin still remembers the impressive thunder experience.

"We walked half of the rain to become very fierce, and the rain patted on the face sideways. The thunder also changed from a stuffy thunder to a thunder. There is no way back, because going back and going forward. I think it was a bit dangerous afterwards, but at that time, I could only rush forward. "Jiang Rubin said.

In 2012, Binzhou encountered a fierce typhoon. In the face of this kind of weather, Jiang Rubin was a little tangled in his heart: "We want to study the thunder and electricity in the typhoon, and want to try to attract lightning after the typhoon landing, but there is no similar experience before, we can only try it first."

At that time, the trial site of the Lei Lei was set up by the Ryo River. This is a river entering the sea. The heavy rain brought by the typhoon allowed the water level to rise rapidly, and some important equipment of the thunder may be submerged. "Although the rain has not stopped, we can only pick up the equipment. In order to ensure safety, we will tie each other with a rope. Once someone slipped, the people before and after can support him immediately." Jiang Rubin said.

In addition to work challenges, early field trials will encounter inconvenience in life. For example, tap water is very unstable, and bathing has become a big problem. "We place water packs and toilets on the roof, and use the battery -type mobile water absorption pump to store sufficient water. Later, solar water heaters were installed to solve the problem of life little by little."

Even if the conditions are difficult, Jiang Rubin still loves his own research direction. From time to time, he will think of the dialogue with Guo Changming, a predecessor in the field of thunderbolt physics research.

"Teacher Guo asked me the first question is, do you like lightning? This is a sudden question, I subconsciously answered 'like'. At that time, it might be just out of the initial energy. Calfering. In the later work, this problem has been lingering in my mind. As the research experience gradually enriches, this favorite has gradually precipitated, and his inner answer becomes firm. "Jiang Rubin said.

Explore never stop

Since the 1960s, the United States, France, China, and Japan and other countries successfully conducted artificial lightning tests. In the process of scientific research, artificial lightning has made humans control the dream of lightning and using lightning.

Behind the development of the artificial mine science test in my country, the continuous efforts and explorations of the three or four generations are condensed. As of now, the total number of successful artificial lightning in China is estimated to exceed 300 times, and some research on atmospheric electrical science has gone at the forefront of the world.

It is not the ultimate goal to lead the thunder. The more important thing is to explore what the lightning is.

"How does lightning develop transportation? What exactly does the electromagnetic radiation and development rules produced? This series of basic scientific issues that care about the physical nature of lightning and electricity can be answered through artificially quoting lightning observations." Jiang Rubin said.

He also mentioned that the current artificial lightning test is based on ground fixed devices, which restricts the further development and utilization of artificial lightning. In the future, mobilization facilities will be developed and miniaturized the lighting facilities to achieve mobile operations.

"In order to have more field observation opportunities, in addition to Shandong, we have conducted experiments in Hainan at the end of April this year." Jiang Rubin said.

As a party member, when working in the wild, Jiang Rubin will also carry out activities in the form of a party group. "When the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the party last year, it happened to be in the wild, and I organized everyone to watch the live broadcast and discuss and learn."

Regarding lightning, there are still many cutting -edge basic science issues of human beings that have not been resolved. Jiang Rubin kept advancing on the road of scientific research to find more answers.

"China Science News" (2022-09-22 The 3rd edition of the original title "" "" "" ""e" Jiang Rubin ")

Edit | Zhao Lu

Capture | Zhihai

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