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The ENSO Effect on the Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Global Lightning ActivityThe recently reprocessed (1997-2006) OTD/LIS database is used to investigate the global lightning climatology in response to the ENSO cycle. A linear correlation map between lightning anomalies and ENSO (NINO3.4) identifies areas that generally follow patterns similar to precipitation anomalies. We also observed areas where significant lightning/ENSO correlations are found and are not accompanied of significant precipitation/ENSO correlations. An extreme case of the strong decoupling between lightning and precipitation is observed over the Indonesian peninsula (Sumatra) where positive lightning/NINO3.4 correlations are collocated with negative precipitation/NINO3.4 correlations. Evidence of linear relationships between the spatial extent of thunderstorm distribution and the respective NINO3.4 magnitude are presented for different regions on the Earth. Strong coupling is found over areas remote to the main ENSO axis of influence and both during warm and cold ENSO phases. Most of the resulted relationships agree with the tendencies of precipitation related to ENSO empirical maps or documented teleconnection patterns. Over the Australian continent, opposite behavior in terms of thunderstorm activity is noted for warm ENSO phases with NINO3.4 magnitudes with NINO3.4>+l.08 and 0
Document ID
20070031877
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Chronis, Themis G. (Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. TN, United States)
Goodman, Steven J. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States)
Cecil, Dan (Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Buechler, Dennis (Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Pittman, Jasna (Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. TN, United States)
Robertson, Franklin R. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Blakeslee, Richard J. (National Space Science and Technology Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2007
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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