Correlation analysis between radar reflectivity and positive lightning flash rate

Abstract

Lightning is natural phenomena that we will not simply point out its exact origin and when it will strike. Lightning channel is created with extremely high temperature and can occurs multiple of strokes in the same channel. The existence of lightning is known to create damages to properties. This study aims to investigate the correlation analysis between radar CAPPI (Constant Altitude Plan Position Indicator) reflectivity and lightning flash rate in Malaysia. The correlation is made based on the reflectivity index values at 2 to 5 km radius (water droplet intensity in the cloud) with the lightning flash rate. A total number of clouds to ground lightning flashes have been be analyzed in terms of time domain characteristics such as pulse duration, location based on magnetic direction finding (MDF) and the magnitude of the return stroke. The CAPPI radar data of cloud information that carries precipitation in terms of reflectivity index have been plotted using IRIS program. The correlation has been made by observing the pattern of precipitation and lightning occurrence. In conclusion, the result shows that, there are 88 numbers of positive lightning were found from the 5400 data of different type lightning flashes. The result also shows that, when the reflectivity value is high which is between 50dBZ – 55dBZ (the weather is heavy or very heavy rain/small hail) the possibility of the positive cloud to ground happen is high.