Spatial-statistical analysis of lightning events in Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the phenomenon of lightning in Iran in an eleven-year statistical period (2006–2016). For this purpose, precipitation data which included days with lightning (codes 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98), were extracted from other atmospheric phenomena and their spatial and temporal distribution was investigated on a monthly and yearly scale. Then, Iran was divided into 5 regions including: North and Northwest, West and Southwest, Centre, East and Northeast, South and Southeast. The obtained results showed that the highest rate of lightning activity is in stations in the north and northwest. In this region, the highest number of lightning events occur in the months of April to July and the least are in January to March. In the western and southwestern and eastern and southeastern regions, the frequency of lightning is higher in the months of March to June. But the lowest incidence is in the west and southwest region in June to September and in the east and northeast in July to December. In the central region, the spring season has the highest and September and December have the lowest occurrence of lightning. In the south and southeast region, autumn and spring have the most and June to September have the least occurrence of lightning. In general, the frequency of lightning events in the north and northwest stations is higher than in other regions of Iran. The lowest incidence of lightning phenomenon is also seen in the central parts and southeast of Iran.