[TowerTalk] spider balls

[Tom Rauch]

> I really question this.  Why would lightning not strike a
well grounded
> tower.   Once, I watched a storm approach my station.  As
it passed over I
> saw lightning strike my tallest tower which has 15 ground
rods and no spider
> balls.

My wife swears storm clouds part as they pass over her.

I keep telling her it is because when she watches areas that
are NOT above her, the area is huge. She stands here and
looks out at a choice of several hundred square miles (we
can see lightning flashes in storms about 15 miles away, so
15^2 * pi= 707 sq mi possible area for "over there"), and
compares what she sees in that view to what she considers
"here", which is probably 1 square mile.

It's a matter of perspective. "Here" is small target,
"there" is a huge target.

Statistically, data complied by researchers shows areas
where tall towers are located get hit MORE often than other
areas.

73 Tom