Understanding the Meteorological Context of Lightning and Storm Charge Observations in the Netherlands

The meteorological structure of and distribution of electrical charge in a thunderstorm influences how much lightning observed in that storm is in-cloud (IC) versus cloud-to-ground (CG), as well as what fraction of each type has positive or negative peak current. +CGs are statistically rare and thought to be more likely to cause damage on the ground (such as igniting wildfires) than -CGs, making them particularly interesting to researchers. Thunderstorm charge distribution is directly related to storm microphysics and thermodynamics, which, in turn, links it to the meteorological characteristics of storms and storm environments. This study will first analyze high-resolution, 3D-mapped lightning data from the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) radio telescope to investigate the charge distribution in thunderstorms in the Netherlands. Then, it will compare those charge structures and other LOFAR-observed lightning characteristics with peak current and classification information from the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN). Finally, lightning and charge structures will be compared with local weather radar and environmental data. The goal of this study is to better understand the meteorological context of the relatively uncommon charge structures previously documented via LOFAR in the Netherlands.