Temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of 2011—2021 lightning in Anhui

Abstract:
Based on the data of lightning in Anhui Province of China from 2011 to 2021, the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of lightning were statistically analyzed. The results showed that the negative lightning is the main type, accounting for 94.02% of the total number. The high-frequency period of lightning is from May to September every year, and the total lightning frequency and peak current of return stroke reach maximum and minimum in August, respectively. The positive lightning ratio increases with the decrease of the total number. For daily variation, the frequent period of lightning is at 14-19p.m., which is corresponded to the active time of strong convective weather. The fluctuation ampli-tude of average peak current of return stroke is relatively small, and the peak value appears at 06 a.m. The average density of total lightning is 1.72/times(km(exp2)·a), and presents larger in the southern area than that in the northern area, while the spatial distribution of total peak current of return stroke is roughly opposite． The water vapor conditions, thermal con-ditions and trigger mechanism in the southern Anhui are better than those in the northern region, so that thunderstorms and other severe convective weather are more frequently.