A Review of Advances in Lightning Observations during the Past Decade in Guangdong, China

• Published in: Journal of Meteorological Research 2016-08, Vol.30 (5), p.800-819
• Main Author: 张义军 吕伟涛 陈绍东 郑栋 张阳 颜旭 陈绿文 董万胜 但建茹 潘汉波
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospheric Sciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geophysics and Environmental Physics; Meteorology
• ISSN: 2095-6037; 2198-0934
• DOI: 10.1007/s13351-016-6928-7

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding the physical processes of artificially triggered light- ning and natural lightning as well as the progress in testing lightning protection technologies, based on a series of lightning field campaigns jointly conducted by the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences and Guangdong Meteorological Bureau since 2006. During the decade-long series of lightning field experi- ments, the technology of rocket-wire artificially triggered lightning has been improved, and has successfully triggered 94 lightning flashes. Through direct lightning current waveform measurements, an average return stroke peak current of 16 kA was obtained. The phenomenon that the downward leader connects to the lateral surface of the upward leader in the attachment process was discovered, and the speed of the upward leader during the connection process being significantly greater than that of the downward leader was re- vealed. The characteristics of several return strokes in cloud-to-ground lighting have also been unveiled, and the mechanism causing damage to lightning protection devices （i.e., ground potential rise within the rated current） was established. The performance of three lightning monitoring systems in Guangdong Province has also been quantitatively assessed.