Spatial and temporal patterns in lightning discharges as a proxy of thunderstorm characteristics

Abstract

Lightning is nature's way of destroying electrical buildup in thunderclouds. Thus, the pattern of lightning activity is inherently a proxy measure of the timescales for charge separation and the lateral extent of the charge reunification in a flash. Using data from lightning stroke geolocation networks such as NLDN and GLD360, we deduce statistically the charge buildup time by observing the suppression of the probability of two nearby flashes (an effect which fades away). We characterize this suppression effect for different storms, and as a function of storm phase and lightning parameters such as peak current and polarity.