A Review of Atmospheric Electricity Research in China from 2019 to 2022

Atmospheric electricity is composed of a series of electric phenomena in the atmosphere.Significant advances in atmospheric electricity research conducted in China have been achieved in recent years.In this paper,the research progress on atmospheric electricity achieved in China during 2019-22 is reviewed focusing on the following aspects:(1)lightning detection and location techniques,(2)thunderstorm electricity,(3)lightning forecasting methods and techniques,(4)physical processes of lightning discharge,(5)high energy emissions and effects of thunderstorms on the upper atmosphere,and(6)the effect of aerosol on lightning.

Development of a low-frequency magnetic lightning mapping system(LFM-LMS)in North China:validation and preliminary results

A low-frequency magnetic lightning mapping system(LFM-LMS)was built during the SHAndong Triggered Lightning Experiment(SHATLE),based on continuous measurements of magnetic field radiation from lightning.The hardware and source-mapping techniques used by the LFM-LMS were introduced;both Monte Carlo simulations and the observation of rocket-triggered lightning examples were employed to examine the location accuracy and detection effectiveness of the LFM-LMS.We estimated that the system’s location accuracy about 100−200 m horizontally and~200 m vertically.A natural intra-cloud lightning flash and a rocket-triggered lightning flash,both with intricate structures and discharging processes,were examined using the three-dimensional mapping results.The progressing path of negative lightning leaders is usually well-defined,and its propagation speed is estimated to be(0.5−1.4)×10^(6)m/s.In summary,the LFM-LMS can reconstruct the three-dimensional morphology of lightning flashes;this technology provides a efficient method for investigating the characteristics of lightning development,as well as the overall electrical strucuture of thunderstorms.

Propagation of positive, negative, and recoil leaders in upward lightning flashes

Leader propagation is a fundamental issue in lightning physics. The propagation characteristics of positive leaders and negative leaders are summarized and compared based on data from high-speed camera and electromagnetic field in rocket-triggered lightning and tower-initiated lightning discharges; available channel base current data recorded in rocket-triggered lightning are also used. The negative leaders propagate in a stepped fashion accompanied by many branches. The stems ahead of the negative leader tip determine the manner and direction of the leader propagation, and even the branching and winding of the lightning channel. The impulsive current, electromagnetic field, and related optical images suggest that the positive leader may develop in a step-like fashion at its initial stage of triggered lightning. However, the stepping processes of the positive leader are obviously different from those of the negative leader. Tower-initiated lightning revealed that the most conspicuous characteristics of the stepwise positive leader involve the intermittent brush-like corona zone in front of the leader tip and the luminosity enhancement of the channel behind the tip. In rockettriggered lightning flashes, the charge transferred during an individual step for the negative leader was nearly an order greater than for the positive counterpart. The successive streamers ahead of the leader tip are essential for both negative and positive leader propagation, and the stems could be formed from one or more streamers in the previous negative streamer zone with the main leader channel dim. High-resolution observation of tower lightning also revealed a new type of bidirectional recoil leader, with polarity contrary to the traditional one, traversing in negative channels associated with tower-initiated and rocket-triggered lightning.

Study of the characteristics of rocket-triggered lightning energetic radiation and its relationships with the discharge parameters

Through the use of the independently developed Thunderstorm Energetic Radiation Observation System(TEROS),observation experiments of rocket-triggered lightning energetic radiation(RLER)were conducted for the first time at the Field Experiment Base on Lightning Sciences,China Meteorological Administration from May 2021 to July 2021.A total of 17 X-ray bursts were detected during all of the 22 leader/return strokes.In this study,the energy,time,and direction characteristics of Xray burst and its relationships with the corresponding discharge parameters,such as the return stroke peak current,half-peak width,rise time,and interstroke time interval,as well as the associated physical processes,are analyzed and discussed.Results showed that energetic radiation is ubiquitous in triggered lightning and is closely related to the last downward leader phase before the return stroke.The photon energies were concentrated in tens to hundreds of ke V,and the average duration of RLER was approximately 27μs.Moreover,RLER exhibited directional property inconsistent with a vertical downward beam,which may be related to the development orientation of the lightning leader.The intensity of RLER was positively correlated with the return stroke peak current,indicating that it directly depends on the lightning intensity,but it would be modulated by the lightning channel conditions.The 17 RLER events showed 3 different time distribution patterns,namely,discrete,continuous,and discrete/continuous pulses,of which the discharge parameters were also different.The discrete pulse event had the longest duration,a small half-peak width,and a long interstroke time interval.Furthermore,all of these events occurred during the last several leader/return strokes.The continuous pulse event had a short duration and a small peak current.The discrete/continuous pulse event had a moderate duration and a large half-peak width and peak current.These three distinct time distribution patterns may be determined by different development types of lightning leaders.Our observations support the leader high-field runaway mechanism.

Understanding the dynamical-microphysical-electrical processes associated with severe thunderstorms over the Beijing metropolitan region

The Dynamical-microphysical-electrical Processes in Severe Thunderstorms and Lightning Hazards(STORM973)project conducted coordinated comprehensive field observations of thunderstorms in the Beijing metropolitan region(BMR)during the warm season from 2014 to 2018.The aim of the project was to understand how dynamical,microphysical and electrical processes interact in severe thunderstorms in the BMR,and how to assimilate lightning data in numerical weather prediction models to improve severe thunderstorm forecasts.The platforms used in the field campaign included the Beijing Lightning Network(BLNET,consisting of 16 stations),2 X-band dual linear polarimetric Doppler radars,and 4 laser raindrop spectrometers.The collaboration also made use of the China Meteorological Administration’s mesoscale meteorological observation network in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.Although diverse thunderstorm types were documented,it was found that squall lines and multicell storms were the two major categories of severe thunderstorms with frequent lightning activity and extreme rainfall or unexpected local short-duration heavy rainfall resulting in inundations in the central urban area,influenced by the terrain and environmental conditions.The flash density maximums were found in eastern Changping District,central and eastern Shunyi District,and the central urban area of Beijing,suggesting that the urban heat island effect has a crucial role in the intensification of thunderstorms over Beijing.In addition,the flash rate associated with super thunderstorms can reach hundreds of flashes per minute in the central city regions.The super(5%of the total),strong(35%),and weak(60%)thunderstorms contributed about 37%,56%,and 7%to the total flashes in the BMR,respectively.Owing to the close connection between lightning activity and the thermodynamic and microphysical characteristics of the thunderstorms,the lightning flash rate can be used as an indicator of severe weather events,such as hail and short-duration heavy rainfall.Lightning data can also be assimilated into numerical weather prediction models to help improve the forecasting of severe convection and precipitation at the cloud-resolved scale,through adjusting or correcting the thermodynamic and microphysical parameters of the model.