ISSN 1006-9895

CN 11-1768/O4

The Characteristics of Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Flashes and Charge Structure of a Typical Thunderstorm in Chinese Inland Plateau
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    Abstract:

    Six-station measurements on electric field change of lightning flashes were carried out in the summer of 2002 in Qinghai area [ (37°3.795′N, 101° 34.94′E), 2553.32 m above sea level], the northeastern verge of the Tibetan Plateau. By using the point charge model, the height and magnitude of charge neutralized by return strokes have been fitted, with the nonlinear least-square method, based on the electric field changes of cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes observed in a typical thunderstorm with larger-than-usual lower positive charge center (LPCC) occurring in the afternoon of 4 August 2002. A total of 65 return strokes in 16 negative CG and 2 positive CG flashes has been analyzed. The results show that the height of charge region neutralized by negative CG flashes ranges from 3 km to 5 km above the ground. For the two positive CG flashes, the neutralized charge region is located in a height range from 5 km to 6 km. It shows that the thunderstorm has a triple charge structure. The average charges neutralized by a negative return stroke and a positive return stoke are about 1.48 C and 2.02 C, respectively.

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  • Online: April 26,2012
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