[TowerTalk] spider balls

[Jerry Keller]

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

Because it's from you, Tom, I'm willing to accept that, but I wonder:

1. Where does one find the data to which you refer?
2. Who are the researchers?
3. When was the data compiled?
4. How was the data gathered?

And (because it's them) I'm also willing to accept the first-hand descriptions given by W0UN and VE6JY, which seem to take perspective into account.

73, Jerry K3BZ
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Rauch 
  To: kk9a at arrl.net ; TOWERTALK at contesting.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 6:29 PM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] spider balls


  > 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


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