Lightning Characteristics and Electric Charge Structure of a Hail-Producing Thunderstorm on the Eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Xiangpeng Fan,Yijun Zhang,Dong Zheng,Guangshu Zhang

doi:10.3390/atmos9080295

Abstract

An isolated hail-producing thunderstorm that occurred on 20 August 2012, from the Composite Observing Experiment for Lightning project carried out in the Da Tong Region of Qinghai Province, China, was studied. In most stages, the charge structure in the storm showed a positive tripole structure, which resulted in a low positive ground lightning rate for the whole event. In the thunderstorm process, 202 lightning flashes were detected. The peak lightning rate of lightning was 28 times/5 min. The average number of return strokes of negative ground flash was 2.4, and only one return stroke of positive ground lightning occurred. The duration of the in-cloud process prior to the first return stroke was relatively long. Dynamic transport had a considerable influence on the charge structure of the cloud. Before and after hail landing, the ground electric field of several stations showed a consistent trend of reversal.

Highlights

Lightning is the product of the development of a convective weather system to a certain magnitude, with close ties to the development of both the dynamic and microphysical processes within the system
It is generally considered that the appearance of EOSO is due source in the upper positive charge region in the different stages
During the formation and development of the cloud anvil, the range of the upper positive charge region expanded to the surface field meters being exposed to the positive charge of the cloud by the downdrafts occurring in their dissipating stages, that is, when the downdraft carries the positive charge in the cloud downward, it will show this feature on the ground electric field meter

Summary

Introduction

Lightning is the product of the development of a convective weather system to a certain magnitude, with close ties to the development of both the dynamic and microphysical processes within the system. The various phase states of hydrometeors move at different speeds in a thunderstorm, constantly emerging, coalescing and separating These changes are accompanied by electron transfers, which leads to various phase states of hydrometeors with different electric charges separating into different charge regions and producing lightning. The thunderstorm cloud developed from northwest to southeast along the valley area. In the middle and late stage of the thunderstorm process, the storm cloud was rapidly valley area. In the middle and late stage of the thunderstorm process, the storm cloud was rapidly enhanced due due to the forced lifting bybythe mountainsofof observation station network, enhanced to the forced lifting thesouthern southern mountains thethe observation station network, and and a severe hail process lasting about min occurred at around 14:10 p.m. (the time stated in this article is a severe hail process lasting about 5 min occurred at around 14:10 p.m.

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Discussion

Conclusion