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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2022, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (11): 21-30.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20221103

• Frontier & focus: lightning monitoring and forest lightning fire dynamics • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Temporal and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Lightning in Daxing'anling Mountains Based on VLF/LF 3D Lightning Location System

Weike Li1,2,Lifu Shu1,2,Shangbo Yuan3,Jiajun Song3,Wei Li1,2,Liqing Si1,2,Fengjun Zhao1,2,Yahui Wang3,Mingyu Wang1,2,*   

  1. 1. Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    2. Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Beijing 100091
    3. Institute of Electrical Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190
  • Received:2022-07-10 Online:2022-11-25 Published:2023-03-08
  • Contact: Mingyu Wang

Abstract:

Objective: Lightning fire is the biggest cause threatening the safety of forest resources in Daxing'anling Mountains. This study aims to provide a scientific basis for lightning fire monitoring, early warning, prevention and suppression by analyzing the occurrence pattern of lightning in the Daxing'anling Mountains. Method: Based on the monitoring data with the VLF/LF 3D lightning location system from 2019 to 2021 in Daxing'anling Mountains, the quantity of lightning (intra-cloud lightning, IC; cloud to ground lightning, CG; positive lightning, PL; negative lightning, NL), current intensity, height of IC, and the temporal and spatial distribution of lightning activities were analyzed. Result: 1) A total of 710 487 times of lightning were detected in Daxing'anling Mountains (321 667 times in Heilongjiang Daxing'anling Mountains and 388 820 times in Inner Mongolia Daxing'anling Mountains) from 2019 to 2021, with an average of 236 829 times per year. The lightning in Daxing'anling Mountains was mainly negative CG, in which the IC: CG ratio and PL: NL ratio were roughly 1:5. The current intensity of PL and NL in Daxing'anling Mountains ranged from 4.5 to 371 kA, and from -501.7 to -4.5 kA, respectively, and the absolute value of the current intensity of most lightnings was concentrated between 4.5 and 50 kA. The average IC height in Daxing'anling Mountains was 4.72 km, of which 88.09% was mainly below 10 km. 2) The average number of lightning days in Daxing'anling Mountains was 127 days per year. Lightning started at the end of April and ended in mid and late October, mostly from May to August, of which July was a concentrated high incidence period. The occurrence of lightning showed a single peak change pattern in a single day. Lightning started to increase at 10:00, and the high incidence period was from 12:00 to 17:00. After 18:00, the number of lightning gradually decreased, and the total amount of lightning decreased significantly from midnight to early morning. 3) The distribution of lightning in Daxing'anling Mountains was spatial aggregation. On the whole, the lightning density in Daxing'anling Mountains of Heilongjiang was significantly higher than that in Daxing'anling Mountains of Inner Mongolia. High density lightning areas were mostly distributed in Daxing'anling Mountains of Heilongjiang, such as Huzhong, Tahe, Hanjiayuan, Xinlin, Nanwenghe Nature Reserve and Jiagedaqi. 4) Low intensity negative CGs, which are easy to cause lightning fires, were mainly concentrated in Xilinji, the south of Tuqiang, most area of Tahe, the north of Huzhong, and Nanwenghe Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Daxing'anling Mountains, and the north of Mangui, a small part of Hanma and Jinhe in Inner Mongolia Daxing'anling Mountains. Conclusion: The occurrence of lightning in Daxing'anling Mountains has obvious spatial-temporal heterogeneity. Based on the occurrence pattern of lightning and specific types of lightning that are prone to fire, it is suggested that targeted monitoring, early warning and early deployment are effective means to prevent major lightning fires.

Key words: Daxing'anling Mountains, 3D lightning location system, intra-cloud lightning and cloud to ground lightning, positive lightning and negative lightning, spatiotemporal distribution, lightning fire

CLC Number: