Lightning Characteristics of Extreme Weather Events

Abstract

Lightning characteristics of extreme weather events are reviewed by first introducing the variety of thunderstorm types and large scale weather systems with embedded thunderstorms which may cause extreme events. In a description of charge separation processes, we identify the non-inductive charging mechanism as the most relevant and outline the resulting basic charge layer distribution, the normal (or inverted) polarity dipoles and tripoles. Several case studies serve to il-lustrate and exemplify the concepts of the introductory part and relate the light-ning evolution characteristics to hail storms, tornadoes, mesoscale convective sys-tems, derechos or tropical and extratropical cyclones. There is compelling evidence that severe weather from thundering convection is often correlated to anomalous lightning activity, for instance signified by unusual values of lightning frequency or polarity. We also identify areas in which further research is needed, like the causes of the land-ocean contrast in lightning activity or the interrelation between recently discovered cold-ring cloud top structures and the storms’ total lighting evolution (cloud-to-ground and intracloud flashes). Due to recently im-proved total lighting discrimination capabilities of lighting detection networks, we are confident that significant progress can be achieved in clarifying these open is-sues in the near future.