Lightning phenomenology in the Tel Aviv area from 1989 to 1996

Yair, Yoav; Levin, Zev; Altaratz, Orit

doi:10.1029/98jd00087

Cited by 27 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The eastern Mediterranean Basin is unique in that lightning activity occurs almost exclusively in the winter season, and almost never in the summer (Yair et al, 1998;Altaratz et al, 2003). The conditions for thunderstorm occurrence in the eastern Mediterranean were described by Levin et al (1996) and are similar to the conditions often found in winter thunderstorms in Japan (Kitagawa and Michimoto, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Lightning activity in Israel and the neighboring area occurs almost exclusively in the winter months DJF (Yair et al, 1998;Altaratz et al, 2003). Thus, most studies on lightning activity over the region focus on the winter season and the major synoptic system responsible for lightning, namely the Cyprus Low (e.g., Ziv et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This fact can be partly explained by exceptional events of deep Persian Trough causing summer rainfall (Saaroni and Ziv, 2000). The dominant feature appearing in the autumn (SON), winter (DJF) and spring (MAM), is the higher lightning density over the Mediterranean Sea than over the land, reflecting the major contribution of the CLs to the lightning flash density, as widely studied by Levin et al (1996), Yair et al (1998), Altaratz et al (2003) and Ziv et al (2009). Moreover, the highest density is at the eastern part of the sea, near the coastline.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Lightning Flash Densitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The spatio-temporal distribution of lightning over Israel and the neighboring area and its relation to regional synoptic systems

Shalev

Saaroni

Izsak

et al. 2011

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The spatio-temporal distribution of lightning flashes over Israel and the neighboring area and its relation to the regional synoptic systems has been studied, based on data obtained from the Israel Lightning Location System (ILLS) operated by the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). The system detects cloud-to-ground lightning discharges in a range of ∼500 km around central Israel (32.5 • N, 35 • E). The study period was defined for annual activity from August through July, for 5 seasons in the period [2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010].The spatial distribution of lightning flash density indicates the highest concentration over the Mediterranean Sea, attributed to the contribution of moisture as well as sensible and latent heat fluxes from the sea surface. Other centers of high density appear along the coastal plain, orographic barriers, especially in northern Israel, and downwind from the metropolitan area of Tel Aviv, Israel. The intra-annual distribution shows an absence of lightning during the summer months (JJA) due to the persistent subsidence over the region. The vast majority of lightning activity occurs during 7 months, October to April. Although over 65 % of the rainfall in Israel is obtained during the winter months (DJF), only 35 % of lightning flashes occur in these months. October is the richest month, with 40 % of total annual flashes. This is attributed both to tropical intrusions, i.e., Red Sea Troughs (RST), which are characterized by intense static instability and convection, and to Cyprus Lows (CLs) arriving from the west.Based on daily study of the spatial distribution of lightning, three patterns have been defined; "land", "maritime" and "hybrid". CLs cause high flash density over the Mediterranean Sea, whereas some of the RST days are typified by flashes over land. The pattern defined "hybrid" is a combination of the other 2 patterns. On CL days, only the maritime Correspondence to: S. Shalev (sigalit.shalev.1@gmail.com) pattern was noted, whereas in RST days all 3 patterns were found, including the maritime pattern. It is suggested that atmospheric processes associated with RST produce the land pattern. Hence, the occurrence of a maritime pattern in days identified as RST reflects an "apparent RST". The hybrid pattern was associated with an RST located east of Israel. This synoptic type produced the typical flash maximum over the land, but the upper-level trough together with the onshore winds it induced over the eastern coast of the Mediterranean resulted in lightning activity over the sea as well, similar to that of CLs.It is suggested that the spatial distribution patterns of lightning may better identify the synoptic system responsible, a CL, an "active RST" or an "apparent RST". The electrical activity thus serves as a "fingerprint" for the synoptic situation responsible for its generation.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Lightning Flash Densitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The spatio-temporal distribution of lightning over Israel and the neighboring area and its relation to regional synoptic systems

Shalev

Saaroni

Izsak

et al. 2011

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…One research topic is to study, from a descriptive point of view, the annual, seasonal and diurnal variability and the spatial distribution of flash densities for different geographical areas (Reap, 1986;Lopez & Holle, 1986;Baral & Mackerras, 1992;Orville, 1994;Hodanish et al, 1997;Hidayat & Masaru, 1998;MacGorman & Morgenstern, 1998;Mackerras et al,1998;Yair et al, 1998). Some of these works report statistical relationships between the number of flashes, the number of thunderdays and latitude (Pierce, 1970;Prentice & Mackerras, 1977;Mackerras, 1978;Andersson & Erikson, 1980;Mackerras et al,1998;Yair et al, 1998). It should be stressed that these studies have generally considered a very wide latitude range which includes geographical regions with very different meteorological characteristics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…we do not discriminate between the polarity of flashes), and cloudto-cloud flashes have not been taken into account. Using data from Tel-Aviv (Israel), Yair et al (1998) proposed an exponential function:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteorological and geo‐orographical relationships with lightning activity in Castilla‐Leon (Spain)

Soriano

Pablo

Villoria

2001

Meteorological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Some meteorological and geo‐orographical factors related to cloud‐to‐ground flashes in Castilla‐Leon (Spain) are studied. The relationship between flash density and the number of days with thunderstorms (thunderdays) is analysed, and a clear dependence and geographical variability is found. It is also shown that flashes have an average delay of four hours with respect to the time of the beginning of convection. The effect on flashes of dry static instability and moisture content is analysed by classifying days into four types according to the average values of the 850–700 hPa temperature difference and the 850 hPa dew‐point temperature. A similar classification using the 700 hPa wind direction is used to analyse the effect of the mean‐level flow on flashes. The results suggest that the daily number of flashes is mainly affected by the moisture content. Finally, a relationship between the cloud‐to‐ground flash density and geo‐orographical factors (altitude, latitude and longitude) is deduced using multiple linear analysis. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society

show abstract

Lightning Locators

Shirer¹,

Roeder²,

Shirer³

et al. 2002

Encyclopedia of Imaging Science and Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Locating lightning in real time is an old problem. Radio techniques developed in the early to mid‐twentieth century used crossed‐loop cathode‐ray direction finders (CRDF) that provide the bearing but not the range to the lightning source. Direction‐finding (DF) systems typically sense the radio signal, known as atmospherics , spherics , or ‘ sferics , that is emitted by lightning and that most listeners of AM radios interpret as interference, static , or radio noise . Quite generally, lightning radiates electromagnetic pulses that span an enormous range of frequencies. In this article, the radio signal refers to the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that covers frequencies less than 3 × 10 8 kilohertz (denoted kHz), or 300 GHz, and the optical signal refers to frequencies greater than 3 × 10 8 kHz. Also, when not qualified here, electromagnetic radiation refers to the radio signal. Lightning sensing systems have important applications in meteorology. Certainly, these systems can help to detect and forecast the arrival of thunderstorms by monitoring their positions, motions, and intensities. Such systems are also important for lightning safety and for protecting natural resources in a diverse set of real‐time applications, including fire and personnel safety, aircraft routing, missile launch decisions, power grid operation, and weather forecasting. Lightning is a significant threat to people but far too often is underrated. Lightning sensing systems, especially those that detect intracloud lightning, are being investigated as tools for predicting severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, microbursts, and hail. Lightning data are also being investigated as possible input for small‐scale numerical weather forecast models to supplement the usual observations of pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds. This article is not an exhaustive survey of all real‐time and research lightning location systems, but it provides a comprehensive overview of the topic. It is split into two major parts; the first reviews the many important concepts and defines the terminology used to describe them, and the second covers the different major types of operational lightning location systems by describing an example of each in detail. Many of the lightning facts herein are documented thoroughly in the references. The methods and detection systems reviewed in this article are also described on various World Wide Web (www) sites. The addresses for many of these sites are given.

show abstract

Lightning phenomenology in the Tel Aviv area from 1989 to 1996

Cited by 27 publications

References 21 publications

The spatio-temporal distribution of lightning over Israel and the neighboring area and its relation to regional synoptic systems

The spatio-temporal distribution of lightning over Israel and the neighboring area and its relation to regional synoptic systems

Meteorological and geo‐orographical relationships with lightning activity in Castilla‐Leon (Spain)

Lightning Locators

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About