Climatological distribution of lightning density observed by satellites in China and its circumjacent regions

Abstract

The 0.5U×0.5× grid resolution distribution of lightning density in China and its cir cumjacent regions have been analyzed by using the satellite-borne OTD (Apr 1995–Mar 2000) and LIS (Dec 1997–Mar 2003) databases. It is shown that: (–) Firstly, the variability of the lightning density (LD) is particularly pronounced over the different subareas, 9 times greater over the south than the north side of Himalayas Mountains, 2.5 times greater over the eastern than the western area of China. While the maximum and minimum LD are respectively 31.4fl/km2/a (in Guangzhou region) and less than 0.2fl/km2/a (in the desert of western China). Secondly, the LD of China’s continent regularly varies with latitude and distance off coast, which is consistent with annual mean precipitation in varying trend. In conclusion, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the China’s three-step staircase topography and the latitude are three important factors affecting macro-scale characteristics of the LD distribution. (–) The regional differences in LD distribution are closely related to the mesoscale orographic forcing. In the eastern humid regions of China, the high LD belts often appear along the mesoscale mountains (with south-north or northeast-southwest direction, 500–1500 m ASL) and hills, while the low LD belts often appear on the plain and basin (valley) between the mountains. But in the western cold and arid regions of China, the relatively high LD belts mostly appear on the Qinghai Lake area of the southern side of Qilian Mountain, Yili River valley, the basin between Tanggula Mountains and Nyainqentanglha. On the coastal land, the high LD centers appear in regions where mountain and hill and large cities are located. This seems to be related to the interaction between the sea-land breeze and mountain-valley wind or city heat island effect. (e) The China Sea is one of the relatively high LD zones on global oceans. It is very interesting that a high LD belt is located along the Kuroshio area. It is a new fact that the high temperature and high salinity characteristics of Kuroshio have obvious effect on the local deep convective activity. In addition, the intracloud/cloud-to-ground lightning ratio is close to 3.0 in Anhui Province.