The Effect of the Canadian Shield on Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Density

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Canadian Shield is a large area of exposed bedrock that covers a significant portion of Canada. The focus of this research is on the Canadian Shield in northeastern regions of the Canadian Prairie provinces, the Northwest Territories, and northwestern Ontario. Observations of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes show a distinct reduction in lightning density when crossing the southern boundary of the Canadian Shield. Statistical tests were used to determine whether there was a statistically significant change between the average cloud-to-ground lightning density gradient near the Canadian Shield and away from it. Most regions had a statistically significant change at the 95% confidence level across the boundary. However, regions that contained large lakes or significant topography did not, suggesting that the large open water and rough topography have a greater effect than the Canadian Shield.Three reasons for the distinct change across the Canadian Shield were explored: less lightning is detected, less lightning occurs with the same number of thunderstorms, and less lightning occurs because fewer thunderstorms occur. Some evidence suggested that less lightning is detected because the Canadian Shield has lower electrical conductivity. The low conductivity distorts the lightning waveform and contributes to higher errors and lower detection efficiency. There is also some evidence that a sharp change in land cover from lusher, higher transpiring forest to sparser lower transpiring forest could be reducing the instability causing fewer, weaker thunderstorms.