The Initial Stage of Cloud Lightning Imaged in High-Resolution

Scholten O, Hare BM, Dwyer J, Sterpka C, Kolmašová I, Santolík O, Lán R, Uhlíř L, Buitink S, Corstanje A, Falcke H, Huege T, Hörandel JR, Krampah GK, Mitra P, Mulrey K, Nelles A, Pandya H, Pel A, Rachen JP, Trinh TN, Veen St, Thoudam S, Winchen T (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Book Volume: 126

Article Number: e2020JD033126

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1029/2020JD033126

Abstract

With LOFAR we have been able to image the development of lightning flashes with meter-scale accuracy and unprecedented detail. We discuss the primary steps behind our most recent lightning imaging method. To demonstrate the capabilities of our technique we show and interpret images of the first few milliseconds of two intracloud flashes. In all our flashes, the negative leaders propagate in the charge layer below the main negative charge. Among several interesting features we show that in about 2 ms after initiation the primary initial leader triggers the formation of a multitude (>10) negative leaders in a rather confined area of the atmosphere. From these only one or two continue to propagate after about 30 ms to extend over kilometers horizontally while another may propagate back to the initiation point. We also show that normal negative leaders can transition into an initial leader like state, potentially in the presence of strong electric fields. In addition, we show some initial breakdown pulses that occurred during the primary initial leader, and even during two “secondary” initial leaders that developed out of stepped leaders.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anna Nelles Professur für Experimentelle Astroteilchenphysik, insbesondere Radionachweis von Neutrinos

Involved external institutions

University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen NL Netherlands (NL) University of New Hampshire US United States (USA) (US) Institute of Atmospheric Physics AS CR (IAP) / Ústav Fyziky Atmosféry AV ČR (UFA) CZ Czech Republic (CZ) Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL) Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) BE Belgium (BE) Can Tho University / Trường Đại học Cần Thơ VN Viet Nam (VN) Astron NL Netherlands (NL) Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research (KUSTAR) / جامعة خليفة AE United Arab Emirates (AE) Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie / Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Scholten, O., Hare, B.M., Dwyer, J., Sterpka, C., Kolmašová, I., Santolík, O.,... Winchen, T. (2021). The Initial Stage of Cloud Lightning Imaged in High-Resolution. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 126(4). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033126

MLA:

Scholten, O., et al. "The Initial Stage of Cloud Lightning Imaged in High-Resolution." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 126.4 (2021).

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