type-ß leader

type-β leader

[¦tīp ′bād·ə ‚lēd·ər] (geophysics) A stepped leader of lightning in which the upper portion of the channel is characterized by longer and brighter steps than those found in the lower portion of the channel, a consequence of excessive branching in the upper parts under the influence of strong fields set up by heavy space charges near and around the upper end of the channel.