Transient Luminous Events and Their Relationship to Lightning Strokes Over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Comparison Regions

This study investigates the relationship between transient luminous events (TLEs) and lightning strokes, and the characteristics of TLE-producing thunderstorms over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), and compares them to those over the Yangtze-River Delta (YRD) and East China Sea (ECS) where at the same latitude during 2005-2015. The data were collected using the Imager of Sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning (ISUAL) and the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) observations. Elves, sprites and halo (abbreviated as ESHs) were dominantly detected over the southeastern TP (similar to 88%), mostly in August and September (similar to 81%). Different from the southeastern TP, the detected sprites and sprite-to-lightning stroke ratios over the YRD were larger in spring than those in summer and autumn. Halos were frequently observed in August over all study regions. Blue jets were only detected over the YRD. The density of TLEs over the southeastern TP was three times smaller than those over the YRD and ECS, while the density of elves over the southeastern TP was slightly larger than that over the YRD. The average energy of TLE-related lightning strokes based on WWLLN was found to be larger over the southeastern TP compared to the YRD and ECS. The ESH-producing clouds over the southeastern TP had a larger scale with a lower lightning frequency than those over the YRD. Plain Language Summary Transient luminous events (TLEs) are short-lived electrical discharge that occur in the upper atmosphere. They are generally associated with thunderstorms and are thought to be caused by the lightning within the troposphere. Despite the Tibetan Plateau (TP) being known for having weaker storms and less intense lightning, it is interesting to explore the occurrences of TLEs over this region. Additionally, it is worth investigating the distribution of TLEs, their relationship to lightning strokes, and the characteristics of TLE-producing thunderstorms. Using the satellite and ground-based observations, it was found that in the southeastern TP, elves, sprites, and halos (types of TLEs, abbreviated as ESHs) mostly happened in August and September during 2005-2015. The density of TLEs over the southeastern TP was lower than those over the Yangtze-River Delta (YRD) and the East China Sea (ECS), while the density of elves over the southeastern TP was slightly larger than that over the YRD. The average energy of TLE-related lightning strokes was larger over the southeastern TP compared to the YRD and ECS. The ESH-producing clouds over the southeastern TP had a larger scale with a lower lightning frequency than those over the YRD.

Automated summary

This study investigates the relationship between transient luminous events (TLEs) and lightning strokes. It found that in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, elves, sprites, and halos (ESHs) were dominant, while in the Yangtze-River Delta, sprites were mostly detected. The occurrence seasons also varied.