Quality Assessment of FY-4A Lightning Data in Inland China

The Lightning Mapping Imager(LMI)equipped on the FY-4 A(Feng Yun-4 A)geostationary satellite achieves lightning positioning through optical imaging and has the advantages of high temporal resolution,high stability,and continuous observation.In this study,FY-4 A LMI lightning event,group and flash data from April to August 2018 are selected,and their quality are assessed through qualitative and quantitative comparison with the ground-based Advanced Time of Arrival and Direction system(ADTD)lightning observation network data and the American International Space Station(ISS)lightning imaging sensor(LIS)data.The results show that the spatial distributions of FY-4 A lightning are consistent with those of the ground-based ADTD and ISS LIS.The temporal variation in FY-4 A lightning group frequency is consistent with that of ADTD stroke,which reflects that FY-4 A LMI can capture the lightning occurrence in inland China.Quantitative statistics show that the consistency rate of FY-4 A LMI and ISS LIS events is relatively high but their consistency rate is lower in terms of lightning group and flash data.Compared with the lightning observations by the ISS LIS and the ground-based ADTD,FY-4 A LMI reports fewer lightning events in the Tibetan Plateau.The application of Tibetan Plateau lightning data requires further processing and consideration.

Impact of Assimilating FY-4A Lightning Data with a Latent Heat Nudging Method on Short-Term Forecasts of Severe Convective Events in Eastern China

In this study,a latent heat nudging lightning data assimilation(LDA)method independent of the flash rate was developed and tested with data from the Lightning Mapping Imager(LMI)onboard the Feng-Yun-4A(FY-4A)satellite based on the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)model.In this LDA method,the positive temperature perturbations at the lightning location are first calculated by the difference between the moist adiabatic temperature of a lifted air parcel and the model temperature.The positive temperature perturbations in the mixed-phase region are then assimilated by a nudging method to adjust the latent heat within the convective system.Meanwhile,the water vapor mixing ratio is adapted to the temperature perturbations accordingly to constrain the relative humidity to remain unchanged.This method considers the physical nature of the convective system,in contrast with other LDA methods that establish an empirical or statistical relationship between the lightning flash rates and model variables.The impact of this LDA method on short-term(≤6 h)forecasts was evaluated using two severe convective events in eastern China:a multi-region heavy rainfall event and a thunderstorm high-wind event.The results showed that LDA could add thermodynamic information associated with the convective system to the WRF model during the nudging period,leading to a more reasonable storm environment.In the forecast fields,the simulations with LDA produced more realistic convective structures,resulting in an improvement in forecasts of precipitation and high winds.

Assimilation of Radar and Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Data Using WRF-3DVar Combined with the Physical Initialization Method——A Case Study of a Mesoscale Convective System

Radar data, which have incomparably high temporal and spatial resolution, and lightning data, which are great indicators of severe convection, have been used to improve the initial field and increase the accuracies of nowcasting and short-term forecasting. Physical initialization combined with the three-dimensional variational data assimilation method(PI3 DVarrh) is used in this study to assimilate two kinds of observation data simultaneously, in which radar data are dominant and lightning data are introduced as constraint conditions. In this way, the advantages of dual observations are adopted. To verify the effect of assimilating radar and lightning data using the PI3 DVarrh method, a severe convective activity that occurred on 5 June 2009 is utilized, and five assimilation experiments are designed based on the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF) model. The assimilation of radar and lightning data results in moister conditions below cloud top, where severe convection occurs;thus, wet forecasts are generated in this study.The results show that the control experiment has poor prediction accuracy. Radar data assimilation using the PI3 DVarrh method improves the location prediction of reflectivity and precipitation, especially in the last 3-h prediction, although the reflectivity and precipitation are notably overestimated. The introduction of lightning data effectively thins the radar data, reduces the overestimates in radar data assimilation, and results in better spatial pattern and intensity predictions. The predicted graupel mixing ratio is closer to the distribution of the observed lightning,which can provide more accurate lightning warning information.

Contrastive Analysis of Lightning Characteristics and Lightning Parameters in Hongya County

Based on the data of cloud-to-ground lightning obtained by the lightning detection system in Hongya County during 2011-2015,the parameters of lightning current intensity and steepness in Hongya County were analyzed,and the lightning parameters and the annual average density of lightning stroke to earth were discussed in combination with the Design Code for Protection of Structures against Lightning(GB 50057-2010),so as to provide scientific guidance for lightning disaster prevention in Hongya County.

Lightning Nowcasting with an Algorithm of Thunderstorm Tracking Based on Lightning Location Data over the Beijing Area

A thunderstorm tracking algorithm is proposed to nowcast the possibility of lightning activity over an area of concern by using the total lightning data and neighborhood technique.The lightning radiation sources observed from the Beijing Lightning Network(BLNET)were used to obtain information about the thunderstorm cells,which are significantly valuable in real-time.The boundaries of thunderstorm cells were obtained through the neighborhood technique.After smoothing,these boundaries were used to track the movement of thunderstorms and then extrapolated to nowcast the lightning approaching in an area of concern.The algorithm can deliver creditable results prior to a thunderstorm arriving at the area of concern,with accuracies of 63%,80%,and 91%for lead times of 30,15,and 5 minutes,respectively.The real-time observations of total lightning appear to be significant for thunderstorm tracking and lightning nowcasting,as total lightning tracking could help to fill the observational gaps in radar reflectivity due to the attenuation by hills or other obstacles.The lightning data used in the algorithm performs well in tracking the active thunderstorm cells associated with lightning activities.

Rational Identification of Lightning Derivative Disasters by Strong Convective Weather Monitoring Data in Southern China——A Case Study in Guangzhou Development Region

Analytic method and identification direction for rational identification of lightning derivative disasters by strong convective weather monitoring data in southern China were introduced. Taking identification cases of lightning disaster in Guangzhou Development Region as the background,according to the characteristics in the region that large high-precision enterprises were more,lightning derivative disasters occurred frequently in thunderstorm season,and the actual situation that time of the affected enterprise applying for lightning disaster scene identification lagged,combining Technical Specifications of Lightning Disaster Investigation（ QX / T103-2009）,qualitative analysis method of lightning derivative disaster was put forward under the weather condition of strong convection in southern China by using weather monitoring data（ Doppler sounding radar data,lightning positioning monitoring data,atmospheric electric field data,rainfall data,wind direction and force）,and was optimized by technical means（ ＂ metallographic method＂ and ＂ remanence law＂）. The research could put forward efficient and convenient analytical thinking and method for lightning derivative disaster,and further optimize accuracy and credibility of lightning disaster investigation.

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.