Polarity inverted intracloud discharges and electric charge structure of thunderstorm

Yijun,; Zhang, Bo; Krehbiel,; Xinsheng,; Liu, Ming

doi:10.1360/02tb9378

Cited by 15 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…The propagation features of the inverted IC flash leaders are consistent with those of normal IC flash, and only the initiation point and polarity changed. With regard to the two types of IC lightning, Zhang et al [2002] revealed that in the case of a tripole charge structure, IC flashes not only occur between upper positive charge region and middle main negative charge region, but also can occur between middle main negative charge region and LPC region by using the observation data of lightning VHF radiation source. Qie et al [2009] further confirmed that only the tripole charge structure with a larger-than-usual LPC region in thundercloud will facilitate the occurrence of IC lightning within the upper dipole and lower dipole regions.…”

Section: Simulation Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical simulation of the effect of lower positive charge region in thunderstorms on different types of lightning

Tan

Liang

Shi

et al. 2014

Sci. China Earth Sci.

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Combined with the existing stochastic lightning parameterization scheme, a classic tripole charge structure in thunderstorms is assumed in the paper, and then 2-dimensional fine-resolution lighting discharge simulations are performed to quantitatively investigate the effect of lower positive charge (LPC) on different types of lightning. The results show: (1) The LPC plays a key role in generating negative cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes and inverted intra-cloud (IC) lightning, and with the increase of charge density or distribution range of LPC region, lightning type changes from positive polarity IC lightning to negative CG flashes and then to inverted IC lightning; (2) Relative to distribution range of charge regions, the magnitude of charge density of the LPC region plays a dominant role in lightning type. Only when the maximal charge density value of LPC region is within a certain range, can negative CG flashes occur, and the occurrence probability is relatively fixed.

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Section: Simulation Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical simulation of the effect of lower positive charge region in thunderstorms on different types of lightning

Tan

Liang

Shi

et al. 2014

Sci. China Earth Sci.

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“…Based on the technology of LDAR [4], Scientists at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology developed a VHF lightning radiation sources locating system by time of arrival tech (LMA) with GPS system, which is used to study the 3D evolution process of the lightning VHF radiation sources [5][6][7]. Using the data of this LMA system, Zhang et al [8][9][10][11] made an analysis showing that the charge structure of thunderstorms often presented a normal triple polarity. Meanwhile, he indicated that lightning discharge process inside the cloud not only occurs between the areas of the upper positive charge and negative charge regions, but also exists in the reversed polarity region.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using lightning locating system based on time-of-arrival technique to study three-dimensional lightning discharge processes

Zhang

Wang

Qie

et al. 2010

Sci. China Earth Sci.

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A time-of-arrival (TOA) system based on GPS technology for locating VHF radiation sources from lightning has been developed and used in observation sites in the northern Shandong Province, China. The 3D images of the lightning progression have been obtained successfully for the first time in China. The 3D-channel evolutions of typical negative CG, positive CG and IC lightning flashes have been discussed together with the data of fast electric field change. It was found that significant differences existed between the negative and positive CG lightning flashes in terms of the initiation and propagation of the radiation sources. The preliminary breakdown of a negative CG lightning flash propagated at a speed about 5.2×10 4 m/s. The stepped leader of negative CG lightning flashes was trigged by negative initial breakdown. Thereafter, it propagated downward at a speed of 1.3×10 5 m/s. The initial process of the positive CG lightning flashes was also a propagation process of negative streamer. These streamers propagated dominantly horizontally in the positive charge region and accumulated positive charges at the origin of the lightning, and as a consequence, initiated downward positive streamers. A new type of lightning discharge that was triggered by a narrow bipolar pulse (NBP) is discussed in this study. The NBP was originated at altitude of about 10.5 km in the upper positive charge region. As a distinct difference from normal IC flash, its channels extended horizontally all around and produced a lot of radiation sources. The source power of the NBP could approach 16.7 kW, which is much greater than that of normal lightning discharge ranging between 100 mW and 500 W. The 3D propagation of this new type of lightning discharge was observed and obtained for the first time in China. The possible initiation mechanism of this new type of lightning is discussed here. time-of-arrival (TOA) technique, three dimensional lightning locating system, discharge process, narrow bipolar pulse, new-type of IC lightning Citation:Zhang G S, Wang Y H, Qie X S, et al. Using lightning locating system based on time-of-arrival technique to study three-dimensional lightning discharge processes.Realization of three dimensional (3D) location of lightning radiation process provides a new approach to study meticulously the lightning discharge process, as well as the electrical structure of thunderstorms and their electrification mechanism. Lightning discharges are categorized as cloudto-ground (CG) and intracloud (IC) flashes. People are more concentrated on the CG flash since CG flash is the cause of most lightning damage, injury, and death. Many meaningful results [1-3] based on the lightning locating technology and

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“…Considering tripole as well as more complex charge structures often emerges in natural thunderstorms and an event of negative lightning flashes has been observed by using VHF location techniques [24] , it is considered to be reasonable that the negative lightning flashes often appear in our simulations.…”

Section: Simulated Results Of the Bj83 Casementioning

confidence: 94%

Numerical simulations of the bi-level and branched structure of intracloud lightning flashes

et al. 2006

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Intracloud (IC) lightning flashes have been simulated in fine resolution (12.5 m) by using a bidirectional stochastic lightning parameterization scheme within 2-dimensional domain. The simulated results show that the IC flashes have a bilevel channel structure and the altitudes of the horizontal channels are at the same heights of potential wells, which are supported by the previous VHF source observations and balloon soundings of electric field profile in the thundercloud. Further conclusions are: (1) After an IC flash is initiated near the boundary between positve and nagetive charge zone, the negative (or positive) leader tends to propagate into the positive (or negative) charge zone. Both types of positive and negative IC flashes have been reproduced and their polarity depends on the up and down disposition of the positive and negative charge regions. (2) The extension range of leaders is correlative with the cloud charge distribution. The leader is possible to extend through the inverted charge region all over where it is extending, but keeps away from the isolated charge area of the same polarity. (3) The channel structures also depend on the electric potential distributions in the thundercloud. Before propagating into the central area of potential wells, the leader tends to extend along the direction with the maximum of potential gradient. Once extending away from the center of potential wells, the leader tends to extend along the direction with the slowest potential change. (4) The IC flash channels have the fractal feature with fractal dimension 1.45 before leaders pass through the central area of charge regions. The exponent decreases rapidly once leaders extend into the low-density charge regions. (5) The induced charges of opposite polarity are deposited in the leader channels within preexisting positive and negative charge regions during IC flash discharges. This causes a new and complicated charge distribution in the thundercloud, and the potential extremum drops from 200 to 20 Mv when the IC flash terminates.

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Polarity inverted intracloud discharges and electric charge structure of thunderstorm

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Numerical simulation of the effect of lower positive charge region in thunderstorms on different types of lightning

Numerical simulation of the effect of lower positive charge region in thunderstorms on different types of lightning

Using lightning locating system based on time-of-arrival technique to study three-dimensional lightning discharge processes

Numerical simulations of the bi-level and branched structure of intracloud lightning flashes

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