Integrating Advanced Instrumentation and UAVs for Enhanced Atmospheric Research
Dissertation thesis by Jakub Kákona
Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering (F3)
Department of Radioelectronics
Study programmes: P2612 — Electrical Engineering and Information Technology; P0716D06 — Aeronautical and Space Engineering
Supervisor: doc. Dr. Ing. Pavel Kovář; Consultant: doc. Ing. Jan Mikeš, Ph.D.
Submitted: October 2025
This dissertation investigates lightning and related ionizing radiation phenomena using originally developed radio, optical, and ionizing radiation detectors. By combining ground-based, airborne, and stratospheric measurements, the research enables simultaneous observation of optical, electromagnetic, and radiation manifestations of thunderstorm activity.
The collected data show that lightning discharges often last longer and cover a larger area than is traditionally assumed — the observed median flash duration in Central Europe is 542 ms, significantly exceeding the literature value of ~300 ms. The scientific contribution is twofold:
-
Design of experiments studying causal relations between lightning properties and ionizing radiation.
-
Observed predominant horizontal planarity of lightning, which may help to explain a newly detected radiation phenomenon not previously reported in the literature.
disertation.tex # main source file (OpTeX / CTUstyle3) introduction.tex # introduction and objectives objectives_definition.tex instrumentation.tex # detector and platform design experiments.tex # field campaigns and measurements triggered_recording.tex # triggered recording systems VLF-map.tex # VLF lightning mapping results.tex # results and discussion references.bib # bibliography glosdata.tex # glossary slides.tex # defence presentation img/ # figures and embedded media files articles/ # PDF copies of published articles pdfextra/ # OpTeX PDF extensions (git submodule)
-
GEODOS01/02 — standalone ground-level ionizing radiation detector for long-term unattended operation
-
AIRDOS03 — compact airborne radiation dosimeter
-
TF-ATMON — telemetry system for meteorological balloons and UAVs
-
THUNDERMILL01 — Angular-sensitive Electric Field Mill (EFM) for static and quasi-dynamic atmospheric electric field sensing
-
TF-G2 — unmanned autogyro platform for atmospheric research
-
Mobile ground measurement vehicles with VLF radio antennas, high-speed cameras, and radiation detectors
-
Mobile ground vehicles (in-field deployment close to active thunderstorms)
-
Fixed mountain-ridge and tall-structure stations
-
Meteorological and stratospheric balloons (Regener–Pfotzer maximum, latitudinal studies)
-
UAVs — including the TF-G2 autogyro (TF-ATMON payload)
-
Kákona et al., In situ ground-based mobile measurement of lightning events above Central Europe, Atmos. Meas. Tech. 16(2): 547–561, 2023.
-
Kákona et al., Measurement of the Regener–Pfotzer maximum using different types of ionising radiation detectors and a new telemetry system TF-ATMON, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 198(9–11): 712–719, 2022.
-
Ambrožová, Kákona M., Dvořák, Kákona J. et al., Latitudinal effect on the position of Regener–Pfotzer maximum investigated by balloon flight HEMERA 2019 in Sweden and balloon flights FIK in Czechia, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 199(15–16): 2041–2046, 2023.
-
Kákona et al., Monitoring of ionizing radiation from thunderstorms in Bohemian Forest using standalone device GEODOS, Silva Gabreta 30, 2024.
-
Sihver, Ploc, Turek, Kákona M., Kákona J. et al., Measurements of Ionizing Radiation Generated in Thunderstorms, IEEE Aerospace Conference, 1–10, 2023.
-
Kákona et al., Measurements with Angular Sensitive Electric Field Mill in Thunderstorms, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 2985(1): 012014, 2025.
-
Puričer, Kovář, Mikeš, Kákona J., Telemetry system for research stratospheric balloon, Int. Conf. on Applied Electronics (AE): 171–174, 2017.
-
Ploc, Kákona M., Sommer, Šlegl, Kákona J. et al., Addressing challenges of high-energy atmospheric physics in Europe, Radiat. Effects Defects Solids 179(11–12): 1511–1515, 2024.