Initial continuous current of the negative upward lightning to the Peissenberg Tower, Germany

The parameters of the Initial Continuous Current (ICC) of the negative upward lightning measured at the Peissenberg Tower, Germany, from 2008 to 2022 are analysed. In total, 77 negative upward lightning were investigated, 49% of them were ICC_Only-flashes (without significant ICC-pulse), 30% of them were ICC_RS - flashes (with subsequent return strokes), 18% of them were ICC_P-flashes (with ICC-pulses > 2kA), and 3% of them were ICC_Bipolar-flashes (includes a positive current component). The research revealed that the ICC_Only-flashes were the weakest and the ICC_P-flashes were the strongest ones, the ICC_RS- and the rare ICC_Bipolar-flashes were in between. Compared to the values fixed in the standard IEC 62305-1 for LPL I, in four (5.2%) cases the ICC lasted longer and had a higher amount of charge, and in 11 (14.3%) cases the average current exceeded the tolerable current limit. The strongest flash transferred a charge of 386 C.