Abstract
Based on the lightning data from Beijing Lightning Network (BLNET) and PM2.5 data from 35 automatic air-monitoring stations, spatiotemporal distributions of total lightning activities and aerosols have been analyzed in Beijing (39.5°N-41.0°N, 115.0°E-117.5°E). The response of lightning activities to aerosols is further investigated for a total of 117 thunderstorm days. The results indicated both spatial distributions of lightning density and pollutant demonstrated a gradual increase from northwest to southeast of Beijing metropolitan region. The peak lightning activity under relatively polluted condition occurred at 19:00 LT (Local Time), 4 hours later than that (15:00LT) under relatively clean condition, higher aerosol concentration enhanced the percentage of total flashes by a factor of ~2. Correlation analysis of PM2.5 prior to the occurrence of thunderstorms to lightning density showed a significant positive correlation when PM2.5 lower than 130 μg•m-3. This is likely because aerosols enhanced lightning activities by affecting the convective activities through microphysical processes. On the contrary, as PM2.5 exceeded 150 μg•m-3, total flashes showed a negative relationship to PM2.5. This might be attributed to lower solar radiation reaching the surface as a result of increasing aerosol loading. When PM2.5 ranged from 130 and 150 μg•m-3, the correlation between aerosols and lightning was very weak, which might be caused by the balance of microphysical and radiative effects of aerosols.
Translated title of the contribution | Analysis of potential effects of aerosol on lightning activity in Beijing metropolitan region |
---|---|
Original language | Chinese (Simplified) |
Pages (from-to) | 1766-1774 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Acta Geophysica Sinica |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 May 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2020, Science Press. All right reserved.
Keywords
- Aerosol
- Lightning activity
- Microphysical effect
- Radiative effect