Negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning properties from high‐speed video observations

Saba, Marcelo M. F.; Ballarotti, M. G.; Pinto, O.

doi:10.1029/2005jd006415

Cited by 102 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The highest probability (64 %) is for single-stroke flashes, with 19 % having two strokes, 9 % having 3 strokes and much lower percentages with higher multiplicity values. The distribution is markedly different than reported in accurate stroke count studies in Brazil (Saba et al, 2006) and Arizona (Saraiava et al, 2010), where the average multiplicity was 3.9. Fleenor et al (2009) studied storms in the US mid-planes and reported a video multiplicity average of 2.83 with median 2 for 103 strokes.…”

Section: Methodology and Resultscontrasting

confidence: 45%

Lightning flash multiplicity in eastern Mediterranean thunderstorms

Yair

Shalev

Erlich

et al. 2014

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Cloud-to-ground lightning flashes usually consist of one or several strokes coming in very short temporal succession and close spatial proximity. A commonly used method for converting stroke data into flashes is using the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) thresholds of maximum temporal separation of 0.5 s and maximum lateral distance of 10 km radius between successive strokes. In the present study, we tested a location-based algorithm with several spatial and temporal ranges, and analyzed stroke data obtained by the Israel Lightning Location System (ILLS) during one year (1.8.2009-31.7.2010). We computed the multiplicity, the percentage of single stroke flashes and the geographical distribution of average multiplicity values for thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Results show that for the NLDN thresholds, the percentage of single stroke flashes in Israel was 37 % and the average multiplicity was 1.7. We reanalyzed the data with a spatial range that equals twice the ILLS location error and shorter times. For the new thresholds of maximum distance of 2.5 km and maximum allowed temporal separation of 0.2 s we find that the mean multiplicity of negative CGs is lowered to 1.

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Section: Methodology and Resultscontrasting

confidence: 45%

Lightning flash multiplicity in eastern Mediterranean thunderstorms

Yair

Shalev

Erlich

et al. 2014

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…The majority of CG flashes over Brazil are negative flashes (Saba et al, 2006). Depending on different wind regimes, varying lightning activity has been observed over the Amazon region.…”

Section: Transport Modelling: Flexpartmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lightning-produced NO<sub>x</sub> over Brazil during TROCCINOX: airborne measurements in tropical and subtropical thunderstorms and the importance of mesoscale convective systems

et al. 2007

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Abstract. During the TROCCINOX field experiments in February-March 2004 and February 2005, airborne in situ measurements of NO, NO y , CO, and O 3 mixing ratios and the J(NO 2 ) photolysis rate were carried out in the anvil outflow of thunderstorms over southern Brazil. Both tropical and subtropical thunderstorms were investigated, depending on the location of the South Atlantic convergence zone. Tropical air masses were discriminated from subtropical ones according to the higher equivalent potential temperature ( e ) in the lower and mid troposphere, the higher CO mixing ratio in the mid troposphere, and the lower wind velocity in the upper troposphere within the Bolivian High (north of the subtropical jet stream). During thunderstorm anvil penetrations, typically at 20-40 km horizontal scales, NO x mixing ratios were distinctly enhanced and the absolute mixing ratios varied between 0.2-1.6 nmol mol −1 on average. This enhancement was mainly attributed to NO x production by lightning and partly due to upward transport from the NO x -richer boundary layer. In addition, CO mixing ratios were occasionally enhanced, indicating upward transport from the boundary layer. For the first time, the composition of the anvil outflow from a large, long-lived mesoscale convective system (MCS) advected from northern Argentina and Uruguay was investigated in more detail. Over a horizontal scale of about 400 km, NO x , CO and O 3 absolute mixing ratios were significantly enhanced in these air masses in the range of 0.6-1.1, 110-140 and 60-70 nmol mol −1 , respectively. AnalysesCorrespondence to: H. Huntrieser (heidi.huntrieser@dlr.de) from trace gas correlations and a Lagrangian particle dispersion model indicate that polluted air masses, probably from the Buenos Aires urban area and from biomass burning regions, were uplifted by the MCS. Ozone was distinctly enhanced in the aged MCS outflow, due to photochemical production and entrainment of O 3 -rich air masses from the upper troposphere -lower stratosphere region. The aged MCS outflow was transported to the north, ascended and circulated, driven by the Bolivian High over the Amazon basin. In the observed case, the O 3 -rich MCS outflow remained over the continent and did not contribute to the South Atlantic ozone maximum.

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“…A large fraction of charge is lowered to the ground within a "return stroke," an intense discharge region that propagates up the stepped leader path from ground to cloud. A flash consists of one or more strokes closely spaced in time travelling along the same discharge channel (Thery, 2001;Saba et al, 2006a). The first stroke is often the most energetic one and assumed to produce the largest amount of LNO x (Hill, 1979;Dawson, 1980).…”

Section: Lightningmentioning

confidence: 99%

The global lightning-induced nitrogen oxides source

2007

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Abstract. The knowledge of the lightning-induced nitrogen oxides (LNO x ) source is important for understanding and predicting the nitrogen oxides and ozone distributions in the troposphere and their trends, the oxidising capacity of the atmosphere, and the lifetime of trace gases destroyed by reactions with OH. This knowledge is further required for the assessment of other important NO x sources, in particular from aviation emissions, the stratosphere, and from surface sources, and for understanding the possible feedback between climate changes and lightning. This paper reviews more than 3 decades of research. The review includes laboratory studies as well as surface, airborne and satellite-based observations of lightning and of NO x and related species in the atmosphere. Relevant data available from measurements in regions with strong LNO x influence are identified, including recent observations at midlatitudes and over tropical continents where most lightning occurs. Various methods to model LNO x at cloud scales or globally are described. Previous estimates are re-evaluated using the global annual mean flash frequency of 44±5 s −1 reported from OTD satellite data. From the review, mainly of airborne measurements near thunderstorms and cloud-resolving models, we conclude that a "typical" thunderstorm flash produces 15 (2-40)×10 25 NO molecules per flash, equivalent to 250 mol NO x or 3.5 kg of N mass per flash with uncertainty factor from 0.13 to 2.7. Mainly as a result of global model studies for various LNO x parameterisations tested with related observations, the best estimate of the annual global LNO x nitrogen mass source and its uncertainty range is (5±3) Tg a −1 in this study. In spite of a smaller global flash rate, the best estimate is essentially the same as in some earlier reviews, implying larger flash-specific NO x emissions. The paper estimates the LNO x accuracy required for various applications and lays out strategies for improving estimates in the future. An accuracy of Correspondence to: U. Schumann (ulrich.schumann@dlr.de) about 1 Tg a −1 or 20%, as necessary in particular for understanding tropical tropospheric chemistry, is still a challenging goal.

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Negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning properties from high‐speed video observations

Cited by 102 publications

References 23 publications

Lightning flash multiplicity in eastern Mediterranean thunderstorms

Lightning flash multiplicity in eastern Mediterranean thunderstorms

Lightning-produced NO<sub>x</sub> over Brazil during TROCCINOX: airborne measurements in tropical and subtropical thunderstorms and the importance of mesoscale convective systems

The global lightning-induced nitrogen oxides source

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Negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning properties from high‐speed video observations

Cited by 102 publications

References 23 publications

Lightning flash multiplicity in eastern Mediterranean thunderstorms

Lightning flash multiplicity in eastern Mediterranean thunderstorms

Lightning-produced NO&lt;sub&gt;x&lt;/sub&gt; over Brazil during TROCCINOX: airborne measurements in tropical and subtropical thunderstorms and the importance of mesoscale convective systems

The global lightning-induced nitrogen oxides source

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Lightning-produced NO<sub>x</sub> over Brazil during TROCCINOX: airborne measurements in tropical and subtropical thunderstorms and the importance of mesoscale convective systems