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A Rocket‐Triggered Lightning Flash Containing Negative‐Positive‐Negative Current Polarity Reversal During Its Initial Stage
Author(s) -
Li Fengquan,
Sun Zhuling,
Jiang Rubin,
Tang Guoying,
Liu Mingyuan,
Li Xiao,
Zhang Hongbo,
Yuan Shanfeng,
Tian Ye,
Qie Xiushu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2020jd033187
Subject(s) - polarity symbols , polarity (international relations) , lightning (connector) , current (fluid) , flash (photography) , rocket (weapon) , electric field , negative feedback , positive feedback , thunderstorm , physics , mechanics , meteorology , optics , chemistry , electrical engineering , aerospace engineering , engineering , voltage , biochemistry , power (physics) , breakdown voltage , quantum mechanics , cell , thermodynamics
A rocket‐triggered lightning flash containing negative‐positive‐negative current polarity reversal during its initial stage is analyzed using multiple synchronized observation data. The flash was triggered under a thunderstorm transition zone between the convective region and the stratiform region. The upward positive leader branched and developed toward the stratiform region. When the negative initial continuous current was decreasing, a negative stepped leader was transformed from a recoil leader on a preexisting positive branch. As the negative leader developed toward the convective region, a breakdown process initiated on a preexisting positive channel and propagated toward the back end of the negative stepped leader, accompanied with a positive electric field change pulse. The current polarity changed from negative to positive about 0.22 ms after the onset of the breakdown process. The negative leader terminated after propagating for 71.08 ms, while scattered discharges on other positive branches maintained to develop, and then the ICC polarity changed from positive to negative.