Percentage of summer positive & negative lightning discharges and lightning current at the dissipating stage

Abstract

By using the lightning data (LPATS data) of June through August (during the years from 1997 to 2001) observed in the Gunma area of Japan, we have performed an analysis on the temporal evolution of percentage of positive and negative lightning discharges and lightning current in different geological regions (mountain, hill, and plain areas) with a special reference to the dissipating stage. As the result, it is found that both the percentage of positive lightning discharges and the lightning current show increases toward the dissipating stage of lightning for Japanese summer thunderstorms, which can be utilized to judge whether the lightning activity is in the dissipating stage.