Comparative study of lightning models with lightning discharges in Malaysia

Cloud to ground flash discharge involves one or more intermittent stages which occur ceaselessly before first return stroke. It starts with preliminary breakdown pulses (PBPs) followed by leaders which cause return strokes (RSs) at the end of a cloud to ground lightning discharge. The pulse trains behaviors are stochastic and vary from a lightning flash to the other flash even in a similar thunderstorm. The variable character of the lightning waveforms effects on the intensity and the duration of the preliminary breakdown pulses. That also causes difficulty to categories the lightning flashes. Several theoretical models for lighting have been introduced by researchers to describe the captured flashes. These models could not be matched to all the recorded waveforms although they are practical and useful most of the time. This paper focuses on the lightning waveforms captured in Malaysia. The compatibility of the BIL model as one the theoretical models with the captured lighting flashes will be investigated during this research.