Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning Leader

Tall object not only has a high probability of being struck by downward lightning, but also is easy to trigger upward lightning. Comparing with 2D optical observation, reconstructed 3D observation by dual-station optical observation can better reflect the real characteristics of the lightning channe...

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Main Authors: Guan Yunong, Lü Weitao, Qi Qi, Wu Bin, Ma Ying, Chen Lüwen, Liu Hengyi, Zhang Yijun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editorial Office of Journal of Applied Meteorological Science 2023-09-01
Series:应用气象学报
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Online Access:http://qikan.camscma.cn/en/article/doi/10.11898/1001-7313.20230508
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author Guan Yunong
Lü Weitao
Qi Qi
Wu Bin
Ma Ying
Chen Lüwen
Liu Hengyi
Zhang Yijun
author_facet Guan Yunong
Lü Weitao
Qi Qi
Wu Bin
Ma Ying
Chen Lüwen
Liu Hengyi
Zhang Yijun
author_sort Guan Yunong
collection DOAJ
description Tall object not only has a high probability of being struck by downward lightning, but also is easy to trigger upward lightning. Comparing with 2D optical observation, reconstructed 3D observation by dual-station optical observation can better reflect the real characteristics of the lightning channel. Based on the synchronous dual-station optical observations from the Tall-Object Lightning Observatory in Guangzhou (TOLOG), an upward lightning triggered by a nearby positive cloud-to-ground (CG) flash at Guangzhou Tower is investigated, and 2D and 3D development characteristics of the upward leader are compared.The result shows that the length of 3D channel is 5.4 km, which is 1.5 times of 2D channel. 3D channel is developed at a height of more than 4.6 km in the vertical direction and about 800 m in the horizontal direction. 2D speed ranges from 1.8×104 to 4.5×105 m·s-1, with an average of 1.8×105 m·s-1. 3D speed ranges from 3.8×104 to 7.2×105 m·s-1, with an average value of 2.8×105 m·s-1. Within 10 ms after the leader initiation, 3D and 2D speeds show roughly the same trend. After 10 ms, 2D rate decreases significantly and changes little over time, while 3D speed shows an obvious irregular fluctuation with time. The ratio of 3D speed and 2D speed ranges from 1 to 4.7, with an average of 1.5. The ratio remains stable at 1-2 for the first 10 ms after leader initiation and then shows irregular fluctuations with time. In fact, due to the change of horizontal development direction of the channel 10 ms after the leader initiation, the distance between the channel and the station-1 increases rapidly, leading to increasing speed difference between 3D and 2D observations. The cause for the fluctuation of 3D speed and 2D speed ratio is that the angle between the development direction of the channel and the sight direction of the observation station changes greatly. The results of 2D and 3D vary greatly at a certain stage of upward leader development, which further proves the importance of analyzing 3D development characteristics of lightning.
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language English
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publisher Editorial Office of Journal of Applied Meteorological Science
record_format Article
series 应用气象学报
spelling doaj-art-1938b9a0a0ff4dc08fbf57b6013a71612025-08-20T02:18:54ZengEditorial Office of Journal of Applied Meteorological Science应用气象学报1001-73132023-09-0134559860710.11898/1001-7313.20230508yyqxxb-34-5-598Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning LeaderGuan Yunong0Lü Weitao1Qi Qi2Wu Bin3Ma Ying4Chen Lüwen5Liu Hengyi6Zhang Yijun7Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & CMA Key Laboratory of Lightning, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & CMA Key Laboratory of Lightning, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & CMA Key Laboratory of Lightning, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & CMA Key Laboratory of Lightning, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081Guangzhou Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, CMA, Guangzhou 510641State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & CMA Key Laboratory of Lightning, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438Tall object not only has a high probability of being struck by downward lightning, but also is easy to trigger upward lightning. Comparing with 2D optical observation, reconstructed 3D observation by dual-station optical observation can better reflect the real characteristics of the lightning channel. Based on the synchronous dual-station optical observations from the Tall-Object Lightning Observatory in Guangzhou (TOLOG), an upward lightning triggered by a nearby positive cloud-to-ground (CG) flash at Guangzhou Tower is investigated, and 2D and 3D development characteristics of the upward leader are compared.The result shows that the length of 3D channel is 5.4 km, which is 1.5 times of 2D channel. 3D channel is developed at a height of more than 4.6 km in the vertical direction and about 800 m in the horizontal direction. 2D speed ranges from 1.8×104 to 4.5×105 m·s-1, with an average of 1.8×105 m·s-1. 3D speed ranges from 3.8×104 to 7.2×105 m·s-1, with an average value of 2.8×105 m·s-1. Within 10 ms after the leader initiation, 3D and 2D speeds show roughly the same trend. After 10 ms, 2D rate decreases significantly and changes little over time, while 3D speed shows an obvious irregular fluctuation with time. The ratio of 3D speed and 2D speed ranges from 1 to 4.7, with an average of 1.5. The ratio remains stable at 1-2 for the first 10 ms after leader initiation and then shows irregular fluctuations with time. In fact, due to the change of horizontal development direction of the channel 10 ms after the leader initiation, the distance between the channel and the station-1 increases rapidly, leading to increasing speed difference between 3D and 2D observations. The cause for the fluctuation of 3D speed and 2D speed ratio is that the angle between the development direction of the channel and the sight direction of the observation station changes greatly. The results of 2D and 3D vary greatly at a certain stage of upward leader development, which further proves the importance of analyzing 3D development characteristics of lightning.http://qikan.camscma.cn/en/article/doi/10.11898/1001-7313.20230508upward flashdual-station optical observationdifference in characteristics
spellingShingle Guan Yunong
Lü Weitao
Qi Qi
Wu Bin
Ma Ying
Chen Lüwen
Liu Hengyi
Zhang Yijun
Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning Leader
应用气象学报
upward flash
dual-station optical observation
difference in characteristics
title Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning Leader
title_full Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning Leader
title_fullStr Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning Leader
title_full_unstemmed Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning Leader
title_short Difference Between 2D and 3D Development Characteristics of an Upward Lightning Leader
title_sort difference between 2d and 3d development characteristics of an upward lightning leader
topic upward flash
dual-station optical observation
difference in characteristics
url http://qikan.camscma.cn/en/article/doi/10.11898/1001-7313.20230508
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