资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

This study evaluates how clouds evolve into thunderstorms in terms of the turbulence characteristics producing the first flash. Observations of 57 (39) isolated thunderstorm (non-thunderstorm) cells during 2016/2017 in Southern China are provided by an S-band polarimetric radar and three independent lightning location systems. The vertical turbulence characteristics of clouds associated with thunderstorms are obviously different from non-thunderstorms. For thunderstorms, the maximum of the eddy dissipation rate (mean value in each height layer) in the entire height is 0.19 m²s⁻³, which occurs at the first flash stage, and the achievable height of turbulence exceeds the −30°C layer. For non-thunderstorms, however, the maximum is 0.12 m²s⁻³ and the achievable turbulence height hardly exceeds the −10°C layer. Additionally, the turbulence intensities of the locations where the initial discharge pulse events of the first flashes occur are weak. These turbulence characteristics are useful for lightning nowcasting.