Locations and Radiation Strength of Narrow Bipolar Pulses in a Thunderstorm

Jiang Ruijiao; Dong Wansheng; Liu Hengyi; Yang Lei

doi:10.11898/1001-7313.20180205

Vol.29, NO.2, 2018

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Article Navigation > Journal of Applied Meteorological Science > 2018 > 29(2): 177-187

Jiang Ruijiao, Dong Wansheng, Liu Hengyi, et al. Locations and radiation strength of narrow bipolar pulses in a thunderstorm. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2018, 29(2): 177-187. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20180205.

Citation:

Jiang Ruijiao, Dong Wansheng, Liu Hengyi, et al. Locations and radiation strength of narrow bipolar pulses in a thunderstorm. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2018, 29(2): 177-187. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20180205.

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Locations and Radiation Strength of Narrow Bipolar Pulses in a Thunderstorm

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20180205

1.
Laboratory of Lightning Physics and Protection Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081
2.
Chongqing Meteorological Bureau, Chongqing 401147

Received Date: 2017-12-01
Rev Recd Date: 2018-01-19
Publish Date: 2018-03-31

Abstract

Abstract

Narrow bipolar pulses (NBE) are special flashes in thunderstorms which are different from regular in-cloud discharges and cloud-to-ground discharges. They can produce intense radiation in both VLF/LF and VHF bands. To explore the meteorological environment and discharge characteristics of NBE, locations and radiation strength of 608 positive NBE and 82 negative NBE detected in a thunderstorm day are analyzed using the dual band 3D lightning locating system in Chongqing. Results show that positive NBE occur at the altitude of 7-15 km, with the average altitude of 10.0 km. According to the radar reflectivity of positive NBE, they can be divided into three groups. 49 positive NBE, which occur in the thunderstorm cores (reflectivity), are categorized as Group Ⅰ. 350 NBE occurring in regions outside cores with the reflectivity higher than 5 dBZ are categorized as Group Ⅱ. The rest 209 positive NBE are Group Ⅲ. The radiation strength of these three groups are in descending order on both bands. The mean value of all positive NBE VLF/LF electric field change peaks normalized to 100 km is 13.4 V·m^-1. The mean value of their VHF radiant powers is 73.5 kW. Negative NBE are generally produced in two regions in the thunderstorm. Among 82 negative NBE, 72 of them occur at the altitude of 16-20 km, and the average altitude is 18.0 km. They occur on or beside tops of thunderstorms with 30-35 dBZ echo heights higher than 18 km. The mean value of their VLF/LF electric field change peaks normalized to 100 km is 42.7 V·m^-1. The mean value of the VHF radiant powers is 76.9 kW. 10 negative NBE occur at the altitude of 4-10 km, whose average altitude is 6.0 km. They all occur in thunderstorm cores. The mean value of VLF/LF electric field change peaks normalized to 100 km is 2.7 V·m^-1. The mean value of VHF radiant powers is 18.2 kW. According to statistical results, the radiation strength of the upper negative NBE is mostly stronger than those of positive NBE and the lower negative NBE on VLF/LF band. In VHF band, values are similar, both of which are stronger than the lower negative NBE. The radiation strength of the lower negative NBE is weaker than that of positive NBE in both bands.
- narrow bipolar pulses;
- altitude;
- location;
- radiation strength

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References(45)

Figures and Tables

图 1 站网布局及垂直定位误差的蒙特卡洛模拟结果(a)时间测量误为200 ns、高度为12 km时垂直定位误差的蒙特卡洛模拟与NBE定位点叠加图，(b)时间测量误为50 ns、高度为12 km时垂直定位误差的蒙特卡洛模拟

(黑色线代表行政区边界；黑色菱形代表观测站，蓝色点代表正NBE，红色点代表负NBE；填色代表误差的分布)

Fig. 1 Layout of the network and the vertical estimated errors given by Monte Varlo simulation (a)the vertical estimated errors given by Monte Varlo simulation at altitude of 12 km when the timing error is 200 ns with locations of NBE, (b)the vertical estimated errors given by Monte Varlo simulation at altitude of 12 km when the timing error is 500 ns

(black lines represent the boundary of the administrative regions; black rhombuses represent the observation sites, blue dots represent positive NBE, red dots represent negative NBE, contoufs represent the distribution of errors)

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Fig. 2 VLF/LF electric waveforms and the received VHF radiant power waveforms of NBE (a)waveforms of a positive NBE detected by Beibei Site, (b)waveforms of a negative NBE detected by Tieshanping Site

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Fig. 3 The calibration of VHF receivers in the test frequency of 260 MHz

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Fig. 4 Altitudes of positive and negative NBE

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图 5 雷达反射率因子垂直剖面与6 min内NBE定位点的叠加图(a)第1类正NBE，(b)发生在上部对流区域外侧、未发生在对流核正上方的第2类正NBE，(c)发生上部对流区域外侧、对流核正上方的第2类正NBE，(d)发生在对流核斜上方的对流云顶的第1类负NBE，(e)发生在对流核正上方的对流云顶的第1类负NBE，(f)第2类负NBE

(蓝色星形代表正NBE，红色星形代表负NBE，填色代表雷达反射率因子)

Fig. 5 Vertical sections of radar echoes with locations of NBE within 6 min (a)the first group of positive NBE, (b)the second group of positive NBE occurring outside the upper convection region on the inclined top of convective core, (c)the second group of positive NBE occurring outside the upper convection region on the top of convective core, (d)the first group of negative NBE occurring on the inclined top of convective core, (e)the first group of negative NBE occurring on the top of convective core, (f)the second group of negative NBE

(blue stars represent positive NBE, red stars represent negative NBE, shaded areas present radar reflectivities)

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Fig. 6 Altitudes of positive and negative NBE versus their radiation strength (a)altitudes of positive and negative NBE versus their VLF/LF electric field change peaks, (b)altitudes of positive and negative NBE versus their VHF radiant powers

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Table 1 Isolation characteristics of NBE

孤立性特征	正NBE			负NBE
孤立性特征	第1类	第2类	第3类	第1类	第2类
起始云闪	6	40	44	0	3
起始地闪	1	3	6	0	2
孤立发生	42	307	169	72	5

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Table 2 Calculation results of NBE radiation strength

辐射强度	统计量	正NBE			负NBE
辐射强度	统计量	第1类	第2类	第3类	第1类	第2类
VLF/LF电场变化峰值/(V·m^-1)	最大值	39.5	35.8	34.6	59.4	7.6
	最小值	3.5	1.5	1.5	1.9	1.5
	平均值	15.4	13.8	12.3	42.7	2.7
VHF辐射功率/kW	最大值	261.4	250.7	232.0	219.9	60.3
	最小值	7.8	1.7	1.3	1.3	1.0
	平均值	83.7	81.8	57.6	76.9	18.2

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