Why does the IEC 61000-4-2 define the discharge current waveform for contact discharge only, but not air discharge?
NoiseKenAir discharges are inherently unstable events. One major difference from contact discharge is the factor of discharge arc, the length of which varies depending on test voltage.
This discharge arc path in some part accounts for variable rise times and peak amplitudes, which in reality make air discharge waveform parameters too complicated to define.