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| Titel |
Urban Effects on Lightning Flash Density in the Coastal Region of Israel |
| VerfasserIn |
Y. Yair, G. Binshtok, C. Price |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250028581
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Lightning in the coastal region of Israel occurs mostly in the December-February period, with an average flash density of ~1.2 flashes/km2/year, increasing from south to north and reaching a maximum near the port city of Haifa and the near-by Carmel Mountain. Based on lightning data from the LPATS system, obtained during the winter seasons of 2004/5-2006/7, we mapped flash density by using high-resolution Google-earth visualization tools. We note that maximum lightning activity occurs just west of the coastline above the Mediterranean Sea and decreases over land. The urban complex of the metropolitan Tel-Aviv area shows a clear increase in lightning density compared to more rural regions to its north and south. A second maximum is present near Haifa and its surrounding industrial complex. An increase in positive-ground flash density is present downwind from the Tel-Aviv urban area. A clear mid-week effect is also apparent in the flash density of positive ground flashes with peak currents > 50 kA north-east of the Tel-Aviv metropolitan area. Considering the Urban-Heat Island (UHI) effect, we can explain this as a dynamic consequence driven by wind-shear pushing the upper positive charge center eastward relative to the lower part of convective thunderstorms. |
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