Lightning occurrence characteristics in Japan for 17 years: observation results with lightning location systems of electric power utilities from 1992 to 2008

Abstract

We summarize the lightning data for 17 years from 1992 to 2008 obtained with lightning location systems of nine electric power utilities in Japan and analyze them. The observed annual number of lightning flashes of which the current is more than 10 kA is 400 000–800 000 and the 50% value of the cumulative distribution of lightning peak currents is about 23 kA in recent times. The variation of lightning occurrence characteristics by areas, seasons, and so on, is clarified. Comparison of the obtained data with those obtained by another lightning location system is also made. The relationship between lightning occurrence and climate is discussed. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Lightning occurrence data observed with lightning location systems of electric power companies in Japan: 2009–2013

“…In winter, on the contrary, most of lightning occurs in the coastal area of the Sea of Japan. These occurrence patterns are same as reported previously .…”

“…As stated before, the lightning location systems of electric power utilities in Japan have been replaced by new versions. It has been shown that the number of observed lightning strikes is increasing as detected by the newer versions of the lightning location systems . In order to understand the long‐term trend of lightning occurrence, we analyzed the annual variation of thunderstorm days whose effect on the upgraded system is considered to be relatively small.…”

“…Lightning currents of the first strikes are used in the analysis. A more detailed analysis method is described elsewhere .…”

Long-term Change in Lightning Mortality and Its Relation to Annual Thunder Days in Japan

“…As in many regions of the world, lightning is one of the causes of natural disaster in Japan. Lightning is most frequent in summer, especially in the inland region (Japan Meteorological Agency, 1968;Shindo et al, 2012;Ishii et al, 2014), where daytime heating enhances thermal instability causing the development of convective clouds. Lightning also occurs in winter on the northwestern coast of Honshu under an outbreak of cold air that is heated and moistened over the Sea of Japan.…”

Preliminary Study on Features of Lightning Discharge around Japan Using World Wide Lightning Location Network Data

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