| Autor: |
Narvaez JP; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama.; Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA., Yanoviak SP; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama.; Department of Biology, University of Louisville, 139 Life Sciences Building, Louisville, KY 40292, USA., Bitzer PM; Department of Atmospheric and Earth Science, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA., Burchfield JC; Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA., Gora EM; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama.; Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, NY 12545, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Urbanization tends to increase local lightning frequency (i.e. the 'lightning enhancement' effect). Despite many urban areas showing lightning enhancement, the prevalence of these effects is unknown and the drivers underlying these patterns are poorly quantified. We conducted a global assessment of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes (lightning strikes) across 349 cities to evaluate how the likelihood and magnitude of lightning enhancement vary with geography, climate, air pollution, topography and urban development. The likelihood of exhibiting lightning enhancement increased with higher temperature and precipitation in urban areas relative to their natural surroundings (i.e. urban heat islands and elevated urban precipitation), higher regional lightning strike frequency, greater distance to water bodies and lower elevations. Lightning enhancement was stronger in cities with conspicuous heat islands and elevated urban precipitation effects, higher lightning strike frequency, larger urban areas and lower latitudes. The particularly strong effects of elevated urban temperature and precipitation indicate that these are dominant mechanisms by which cities cause local lightning enhancement. |
