Numerical Simulation to Evaluate the Effects of Upward Lightning Discharges on Thunderstorm Electrical Parameters

A theoretical discussion of the discharge effects of upward lightning simulated with a fine-resolution 2D thunderstorm model is performed in this paper,and the results reveal that the estimates of the total induced charge on the upward lightning discharge channels range from 0.67 to 118.8 C,and the average value is 19.0 C,while the ratio of the induced charge on the leader channels to the total opposite-polarity charge in the discharge region ranges from 5.9%to 47.3%,with an average value of 14.7%.Moreover,the average value of the space electrostatic energy consumed by upward lightning is 1.06×10^9 J.The above values are lower than those related to intracloud lightning discharges.The density of the deposited opposite-polarity charge is comparable in magnitude to that of the preexisting charge in the discharge area,and the deposition of these opposite-polarity charges rapidly destroys the original space potential well in the discharge area and greatly reduces the space electric field strength.In addition,these opposite-polarity charges are redistributed with the development of thunderstorms.The space charge redistribution caused by lightning discharges partly accounts for the complexity of the charge structures in a thunderstorm,and the complexity gradually decreases with the charge neutralization process.

A parameterization scheme for upward lightning in the cloud model and a discussion of the initial favorable environmental characteristics in the cloud

The upward lightning(UL) initiated from the top of tall buildings(at least above 100 m) is a type of atmospheric discharge. Currently, we understand the nature of the UL from ground observations, but the corresponding theoretical research is lacking. Based on an existing bidirectional leader stochastic model, a stochastic parameterization scheme for the UL has been built and embedded in an existing two-dimensional thundercloud charge/discharge model. The ULs simulated from the experiments with two-dimensional high resolution agree generally with the observation results. By analyzing the charge structure of thunderstorm clouds, we determined the in-cloud environmental characteristics that favor the initiation of conventional cloud-to-ground(CG) flashes and analyzed the differences and similarities of some characteristics of the positive and the negative UL. Simulation results indicate that the positive ULs are typically other-lightning-triggered ULs(OLTUL) and are usually a discharge phenomenon between the ground and the lower positive charge region appearing below the main middle negative charge region. The effect of the previous in-cloud lightning(IC) process of space electrical field provides favorable conditions for the initiation of a positive UL. Its entire discharge process is limited, and the branches of the leader are fewer in number as its discharge is not sufficient. A negative UL is generally a discharge phenomenon of the dipole charge structure between the ground and the main negative charge region. The lower temperature stratification and the sinking of the hydrometeors typically initiate a negative UL. Negative ULs develop strongly and have more branches. The OLTUL is initiated mainly during the development stage of a thunderstorm, while the self-triggered UL(STUL) is initiated mainly during the dissipation stage of a thunderstorm.