Three-dimensional lightning characteristics relative to reflectivity and airflow structure in winter thunderstorm

Abstract

A winter thunderstorm was observed in the Shonai area in the northern part of Japan on 30 November 2010. Data from three-dimensional lightning mapping system and two X-band Doppler radars were used to analyze the spatial-temporal relationship between winter lightning channel, reflectivity core, and airflow structure in the thunderclouds. A lightning leader propagating from a rim of echo region to the echo region with high reflectivity involving large vertical vorticity was visualized in 3D. This result indicates that strong updraft caused by airflow convergence in the precipitation system contributed to accumulate positive charges around -10°C level and enhance vertical vorticity by stretching on the convergence line.