Where Are the Lightning Hotspots on Earth?

• DOI: 10.1175/bams-d-14-00193.1
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17T18:51:06Z
• Authors: Rachel I. Albrecht; Steven J. Goodman; Dennis E. Buechler; Richard J. Blakeslee; Hugh J. Christian
• Keywords: Hotspot (geology); Lightning detection

Abstract Previous total lightning climatology studies using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) observations were reported at coarse resolution (0.5°) and employed significant spatial temporal smoothing to account for sampling limitations of TRMM’s tropical subtropical low-Earth-orbit coverage. The analysis here uses a 16-yr reprocessed dataset create very high-resolution (0.1°) with no further averaging. This reveals that Earth’s principal hotspot occurs over Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, while the highest flash rate density previously found lower 0.5°-resolution was Congo basin Africa. Maracaibo’s pattern convergent windflow (mountain–valley, lake, sea breezes) warm lake waters nearly year-round contributes nocturnal thunderstorm development 297 days per year on average. These thunderstorms are localized, their persistent anchored one location accounts high density. Several other inland lakes similar conditions, is, deep convection driven by locally forced flow surface, also revealed. Africa is continent most hotspots, followed Asia, South America, North Australia. A climatological map local hour maximum oceanic maxima related thunderstorms, continental tends occur during afternoon. Most located near major mountain ranges, revealing importance topography development.