On the relationship between lightning superbolts and TLEs in Northern Europe

Pizzuti, Andrea; Bennett, Alec; Soula, Serge; Amor, Samir Nait; Młynarczyk, Janusz; Füllekrug, Martin; Pédeboy, S.

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2022.106047

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…In the context of this study, it is interesting to note that the regions of high lightning superbolt activity in the Mediterranean Sea (Fig. 1 ) and the English Channel 9 , are also regions that have positive TA anomalies with respect to their corresponding salinities in the surface seawater 14 , 17 , 31 – 33 . Where, the excess of TA in the English Channel and relatively low winter time pH could be associated with TA and dissolved inorganic carbon rich groundwater discharge and terrestrial surface runoff inputs from the surrounding land masses and the relatively small volume of this water body.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Most of the previous studies focused on the geographical distribution of lightning activity, have considered only the frequency of lightning discharges. However, more recent studies have started to focus on the geographical variations in cloud to ground lightning intensity 6 – 9 . This was made possible, mainly with the development of observational systems capable of measuring lightning locations, times and peak currents or flash intensities on regional and global scales (World Wide Lightning Location Network—WWLLN 10 ; Earth Networks Total Lightning Network—ENTLN 11 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, Pizzuti et al . ascribed the clustering of wintertime lightning superbolts over the sea surface in the northern English Channel during the period 2010–2020, to more favorable intracloud microphysical conditions in sea based compared to land-based storms, i.e., updraft, aerosol concentration and composition 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties

Asfur

Price

Yair³

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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The divergence of total alkalinity (TA) from conservation with salinity (S) and relatively acidic conditions (pH) in surface seawater was suggested to explain the high prevalence of lightning superbolts in the Mediterranean sea, North sea and upwelling regions of the oceans. In this study we tested the combined effects of changes in S, TA and pH of Mediterranean sea surface water on the intensity of laboratory generated electrical sparks, which are considered to be analogous to cloud to sea-surface intensity of lightning discharges. The experimental results were used to develop a multivariate linear equation (MLE) of Lightning Flash Intensity (LFI) as a function of S, TA/S and pH. This relation was validated with wintertime (DJF) LFI measurements along a Mediterranean sea zonal profile during the period 2009–2020 compared to corresponding climate model outputs of S, TA and pH. Based on the resulting MLE, the combined effects of climate change, ocean acidification and the damming of the Nile, may have increased LFI in the Levantine Sea by 16 ± 14% until now relative to the pre-Aswan Dam period. Furthermore, assuming that salinization and acidification of the Levantine Sea will continue at current trends, the LFI is predicted to increase by 25 ± 13% by the year 2050.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties

Asfur

Price

Yair³

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…The dust is ingested into the marine clouds and contributes to convective invigoration, enhanced freezing, and efficient charge separation. However, much like the Asfur et al ( 2020 A third theory was suggested by Pizzuti et al (2022) who examined the SB over Northern and Western Europe during 2010-2020. They claim that the advection of sea spray aerosols and busy shipping lane emissions contribute to the convective invigoration that leads to enhanced cloud electrification over the English Channel compared to surrounding areas.…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Here we suggest a new hypothesis for the occurrence of SB, based on the robust results presented in this study. The hypothesis, which is suitable for both over land and ocean, as opposed to the theories of Asfur et al (2020), Yair et al (2021), and Pizzuti et al (2022; and relates to the observations of both Orville et al (1987), Brook (1992) and Holzworth et al (2019), states that the main factor that sets the energy per stroke is the vertical distance between the charging zone and the surface, where shorter distance results in higher energy. The charging zone is the ice and supercooled water mixed phase zone of the cloud, in which the charge separation occurs (Williams et al, 1991).…”

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confidence: 99%

A Possible Cause for Preference of Super Bolt Lightning Over the Mediterranean Sea and the Altiplano

Efraim,

Rosenfeld,

Holzworth

et al. 2023

JGR Atmospheres

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Exceptionally high‐energy lightning strokes >106 J (X1000 stronger than average) in the very low‐frequency band between 5 and 18 kHz, also known as superbolts (SB), occur mostly during winter over the North‐East Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, and over the Altiplano in South America. Here we compare the World‐Wide Lightning Location Network database with meteorological and aerosol data to examine the causes of lightning stroke high energies. Our results show that the energy per stroke increases sharply as the distance between the cloud's charging zone (where the cloud electrification occurs) and the surface decreases. Since the charging zone occurs above the 0°C isotherm, this distance is shorter when the 0°C isotherm is closer to the surface. This occurs either due to cold air mass over the ocean during winter or high surface altitude in the Altiplano during summer thunderstorms. Stroke energy decreases with the warm phase of the cloud, as proxied by the cloud base temperature, and increases with a more developed cloud, as proxied by the cloud top temperature, but to a much lesser extent than the distance between the surface and 0°C isotherm. Aerosols play no significant role. It is hypothesized that a shorter distance between the charging zone and the ground represents less electrical resistance that allows stronger discharge currents.

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Observations and modelling of the winter thunderstorm on 4 February 2022 at the Milešovka meteorological observatory

Popová,

Sokol,

Wang

et al. 2023

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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The study analyses a winter thunderstorm that passed over the Milešovka meteorological observatory on 4 February 2022, between 2300 and 2330 UTC. Lightning was recorded directly over the observatory by both the observer and the EUCLID lightning network at 2320 UTC. To analyse the state of the atmosphere at the time when the lightning occurred, we used data from the X‐band Doppler polarimetric radar and the Ka‐band Doppler polarimetric vertical profiler, both located at the observatory. We also applied data from the Meteosat Second Generation satellite, and data from standard meteorological instruments located at the observatory. In addition, we run our cloud electrification model to simulate cloud electrification of the winter thunderstorm to find out whether the model develops conditions suitable for the occurrence of lightning and if so, under what circumstances. Our results show that the lightning appeared at the very end of the storm passage defined by high radar reflectivity. At the same time, it is clear from the radar observations that before lightning occurred, the cloud contained hydrometeors (graupel, cloud or rain water, and ice or snow) which are commonly associated with charge separation by collisions. Our analysis of the radar data also suggests that in at least several parts of the cloud the electric field was strong. Although the cloud top height was very low compared to summer storms, the model results indicate conditions suitable for lightning occurrence. However, uncertainty remains on how to properly formulate the initial conditions for model simulations for this type of storm which was shallow and occurs rarely in winter.

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On the relationship between lightning superbolts and TLEs in Northern Europe

Cited by 5 publications

References 65 publications

Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties

Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties

A Possible Cause for Preference of Super Bolt Lightning Over the Mediterranean Sea and the Altiplano

Observations and modelling of the winter thunderstorm on 4 February 2022 at the Milešovka meteorological observatory

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