Lightning protection of trasmission lines: Analysis of lightning activity in Italian territory

Scientific community is focusing on the effect of lightning activity on people safety and infrastructures security because of the dangerous consequences of this kind of phenomenon. Each study of safety and security associated to lightning flashes needs as input reliable data in terms of lightning activity related to the analyzed territory. In this framework, the analysis presented in this work focuses on the lightning activity measured in the Italian territory for the period 2013-2014 thanks to the use of the Lightning Location System provided by the Meteorological Service of the Italian Air Force. The results show the differences between seasons, stroke polarity and stroke locations in terms of some parameters such as the Ground Flash Density and seasonal daytime distribution, as well as the channel-base current peak.