Recent Advances in Research of Lightning Meteorology

Lightning meteorology focuses on investigating the lightning activities in different types of convective weather systems and the relationship of lightning to the dynamic and microphysical processes in thunder-storms. With the development and application of advanced lightning detection and location technologies, lightning meteorology has been developed into an important interdiscipline between atmospheric electricity and meteorology. This paper mainly reviews the advances of lightning meteorology research in recent years in China from the following five aspects: 1) development of advanced lightning location technology, 2) characteristics of lightning activity in different convective systems, 3) relationship of lightning to the dynamic and microphysical processes in thunderstorms, 4) charge structure of thunderstorms, and 5) lightning data assimilation techniques and application to severe weather forecasting. In addition, some important aspects on future research of the lightning meteorology are proposed.