Weather terms include atmospheric electricity, types of clouds, especially cumulus, and turbulent weather such as rain or high winds.
Using a percentage probability of violation of the rules, launch weather officials use a combination of meteorological and climatological data, local knowledge and experience to forecast this probability.
Lightning is one of the biggest hazards, but it’s not just natural lightning from storms – or cumulonimbus clouds – that forecasters will be worried about.
Rocket-induced lightning from the enhanced atmospheric electric field is also a major risk.
“Certain types of clouds, even if they are not producing lightning, carry an electrical charge, where a rocket passing through them at high speed with an exhaust trail can act like a lightning rod and cause lightning,” Berger said.
This rocket-induced electricity can be triggered more easily than natural electricity.
