Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Lightning Strikes in California in Relation To Large-scale Weather Patterns

The temporal and spatial distribution of lightning strikes varies across California and has a differential effect on lightning fire ignitions. We analyzed 16 years of lightning strike data obtained from the National Lightning Detection Network to determine how the distribution of lightning strikes w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fire ecology 2008-06, Vol.4 (1), p.34-56
Main Authors: Van Wagtendonk, Jan W, Cayan, Daniel R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air masses
altitude
Biomedical and Life Sciences
bioregions
climatic factors
data analysis
density
Ecology
Elevation
fire ecology
frequency
Geography
High pressure
Life Sciences
Lightning
Lightning detection
Lightning strikes
Mountains
Polarity
Pressure cells
Research Article
Return strokes (lightning)
Spatial distribution
temporal variation
Weather
Weather patterns
Wildfires
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Summary:The temporal and spatial distribution of lightning strikes varies across California and has a differential effect on lightning fire ignitions. We analyzed 16 years of lightning strike data obtained from the National Lightning Detection Network to determine how the distribution of lightning strikes was affected by geography, topography, and large-scale weather patterns. Although there were significant differences in the number and density of strikes among bioregions, the annual, monthly, and hourly patterns were similar. The number of strikes increased with elevation. Strike polarity varied by month, and mean peak positive current, mean peak negative current, and number of return strokes per strike varied by bioregion. Weather patterns associated with lightning included strengthened high pressure cells stationed over the western United States that deploy moist monsoon-like air masses and promote rising motions, especially over mountain features. Understanding the variation in lightning strike distributions provides insight into the role of fire in different bioregions of the state and aids in the prediction of wildland fire occurrence.
ISSN:1933-9747
1933-9747
DOI:10.4996/fireecology.0401034