Lightning activity over anthropogenic and natural landscapes

Abstract

The analyses specific threshold of lightning discharges density and thunderstorms days for different type of landscape and level of altitudes were determinate. For Central Europe from 9° W to 20° E and from 42° to 56° N (11° x 14° sectors) for April–September period from 2001 to 2014 were investigated. For Europe for the altitude range from 10 m below sea level (bsl) to 200 m above sea level (asl) the highest lightning discharge density is associated with the forest, shrub and wet, urban areas. For the altitude range 200–1000 m asl the highest lightning discharges density is associated with water (river, lakes), urban and forest areas. For the altitude range level from 1000 m asl to 2000 m asl the highest lightning discharges density is associated with the water, forest and grass types. A dense forest on the track of the flow of a moist air mass can promote the rise of air and the formation of convective clouds and lightning strokes. The effect of rives, channels and large lakes on moisture and development of thunderstorm clouds may account for impact on cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning activity. For three flat 3° x 5° areas with similar meteorological and synoptic conditions, increased CG lightning activity is possible if there is a difference in altitude between different types of landscapes. The altitude difference further contributes to the development of convective clouds producing lightning.