Lightning and Climate: Recent Developments

摘要

The distribution of lightning around the planet is directly linked to the Earth's climate, which is driven by solar insolation. The diurnal heating of the tropical landmasses results in large diurnal fluctuations in surface temperature, resulting in the release of sensible and latent heat into the atmosphere, influencing the atmospheric stability, and the development of afternoon thunderstorms. Similarly, on a seasonal time scale lightning activity is primarily in the warmer summer hemisphere. Due to the recent projections of a warmer climate in the future, one of the key questions is related to the impact of global warming on thunderstorms, and other severe weather. Will lightning activity increase in a warmer world? In addition, lightning itself may have an impact on the Earth's climate. Lightning is a major source of nitrogen oxides (Nox) in the atmosphere, which are a precursor for ozone (O3) production in the troposphere. Since O3 is also a greenhouse gas, changes in lightning activity may have a positive feedback on the climate system. Lightning may also supply important information about the intensity of convection, which is related to the transport of water vapor to the upper troposphere, the amount and size of ice crystals in the upper troposphere (additional positive feedbacks on the climate system), and even possibly the formation of hurricanes. This paper highlights som e of the recent publications in this field since the last ICAE conference (2003-2007).