Characterisation of thunderstorms that caused lightning-ignited wildfires

Author:

Soler Anna,Pineda NicolauORCID,San Segundo Helen,Bech JoanORCID,Montanyà JoanORCID

Abstract

This work studies the characteristics of thunderstorms that cause lightning-caused wildfires in Catalonia, north-east Iberian Peninsula, using lightning and weather radar data. Although thunderstorms produce ~57 000 cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes yearly in Catalonia, only 1 in 1000 end up as a flaming wildfire. Characterisation of thunderstorms that ignite wildland fires can help fire weather forecasters identify regions of increased ignition potential. Lightning data and radar products like maximum reflectivity, echo tops heights and equivalent liquid content were obtained over a 7-year period. Characteristics of thunderstorms that ignite wildfires are examined including storm motion, duration, morphology and intensity. It was found that most probable ignition candidates are lightning associated with cellular thunderstorms and non-linear systems. Radar reflectivity values for lightning that ignites wildfires were found to be below average, these morphological types favouring the occurrence of lightning outside regions of high reflectivity, where precipitation reaching the ground is low or non-existent. Thunderstorms that ignite wildfires are typically of low intensity, with a CG flash rate below average. Most ignitions occur during the maturity phase when the CG flash rate is the highest. A better scientific understanding of the thunderstorms that cause lightning wildfires will help improve early firefighting response.

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Subject

Ecology,Forestry

Cited by 12 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3