Characteristics of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in the stratiform regions of mesoscale convective systems

- The polarity bias of stratiform cloud-to-ground lightning strikes (CGs) appears different from that of convective CGs.
- The first return stroke current of a stratiform CG is usually greater than that of a convective CG. The distribution spectrum of a convective CG current is usually polarized.
- Most stratiform CGs strike the ground around (near or at the edge of) the brightband area.

To better understand the characteristics of cloud-to-ground lightning (CG) strikes in the stratiform regions of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), radar and CG data from 10 MCS cases in China were comprehensively analyzed. Results show that stratiform CGs have characteristics distinct from those of convective CGs. A significant polarity bias appears in convective CGs, but the polarity bias in stratiform CGs is either undetectable or opposite that of the bias of convective CGs. The medians of the first return stroke current for positive and negative stratiform CGs have mean values of 59.7 kA and − 37.3 kA, respectively; these values are 26% and 24% higher than the corresponding mean values for positive and negative convective CGs, respectively. In contrast to stratiform CGs, the first return strokes of convective CGs have polarized currents. Most convective CGs have relatively low currents, but most CGs with maximum currents in MCSs also fall within convective CGs. In the 10 MCSs studied, most stratiform CGs strike the ground at or near the edge of a region whose maximum reflectivity (≥ 30 dBZ) occurs at 3-6 km height. The characteristics of reflectivity across this region are consistent with the reflectivity characteristics of the brightband; thus, this study provides important evidence for the relationship between the brightband and stratiform CGs. A charging mechanism based on the melting of ice particles is speculated to be the key to initiating stratiform lightning. This mechanism could induce the propagation of lightning from the convective region to the stratiform region, thereby explaining the observed strikes on the ground nearby.