Using the lightning localization data observed by TRMM’s Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS), the relationship between lightning activity and a series of convective indices is researched for some areas in China. The convective indices are calculated based on air instability and convective potential analysis methods. Correlation analysis is made for convective indices and corresponding lightning features including lightning frequency and probability. The results show that the higher lightning probability is associated with higher convective energy, more unstable air, nearly saturated lower layer, and smaller vertical wind shear. Both eastern China and southern China show the best correlation between lightning activity and convective indices. Moisture plays a more important role in the convective development of thunderstorms in southern China than in eastern China. A monsoon convective index is developed, and it is good at describing the lightning trend from April to June in southern China. A regression formula is developed for forecasting lightning probability based on convective indices.
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