Lightning Activity Variability with Prevailing Weather Parameters and Aerosol Loading Over Dry and Wet Regions of India

This paper presents the lightning activity, aerosol optical depth (AOD) and climatic parameters (Bowen ratio, relative humidity, rainfall, maximum surface temperature and maximum updraft speed) over wet (Northeast India—NEI) and dry (Northwest India—NWI) land surfaces in a comparative analysis. The analyses are performed on flash counts and weather data of 17 years (1998–2014) retrieved from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) lightning imaging sensors (LIS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), respectively. The first higher peak for flash counts during pre-monsoon (April–May) and second lower peak during September over wet NEI and dry NWI regions indicate the development of strong electrified storms during pre-monsoon and weakly electrified clouds during the withdrawal phase of the southwest summer monsoon. The monthly means of flash counts, Bowen ratio, maximum surface temperature, AOD and maximum updraft speed are higher by 27, 81, 16, 50 and 16%, respectively, for NWI than those of NEI. The relative humidity and rainfall are higher by 12% and 73% for NEI than those of NWI, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation coefficients of lightning activity with climatic parameters and AOD demonstrate the distinctive orographic lifting, moisture content and vertical wind shear in the upper troposphere in the regional climatic zone of dry NWI in comparison to that of wet NEI.