Temporary and Spatial Analysis of Lightning Density in Türki̇ye

Abstract

Abstract The electrical discharge occurring due to ascending and descending air movements between the ground and the atmosphere is called lightning. Lightning from cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds occurs as intercloud (IC), cloud-to-cloud (CC), or cloud-to-ground (CG). In the present study, both meteorological parameters (ground temperature, moisture content due to sea effect) and geographical features (latitude-longitude and altitude) were addressed in the spatial analysis of lightning density in Türkiye. The temporal analysis of lightning density was performed hourly, monthly, seasonally, and annually. The lightning data used in the study were obtained from the Türkiye State Meteorological Service (TSMS). ArcGIS version 10.4.1 was used as GIS software. When the annual lightning density was evaluated by regions, the highest values were observed in the Inner Aegean, Marmara, Muğla-Antalya, Western Black Sea, and Eastern Anatolia Regions. The Central Anatolia Region is the region with the lowest lightning density. Lightning density is also highest in late spring-early summer when the ground temperature and, thus, instability are highest. May and June were determined to be the months with the highest lightning density, whereas December, January, and February were the months with the lowest lightning density. Considering lightning activity hourly, the highest number of lightning strikes occurred at noon, and the lowest number occurred at night and morning hours. Upon examining the relationship of lightning with latitude and longitude values, it was concluded that the relationship with latitude values was more significant and positive. Lightning increases as a function of altitude between 30-150 m and 500-1000 m altitude, while it decreases as a function of altitude between 150-500 m and above 1000 m altitude.