A lightning climatology for Manitoba using cloud-to-ground strike data from a lightning detection network

Abstract

While thunderstorm data have been traditionally collected at first order weather stations, this thesis uses lightning detector data with a higher spatial and temporal resolution as a source of thunderstorm information. Cloud-to-ground lightning strike data for Manitoba during 1985 have been analyzed for spatial variability and diurnal/seasonal distribution. Almost 68 000 strikes were detected over a four month period with July recording the most activity. Three areas of the province had the greatest concentration of lightning strikes, indicating some influence by topography and position of large lakes. Comparisons are made between thunderstorm climatologies derived from lightning detectors and those from weather stations. Forest fire and Manitoba Hydro disruption data are compared with lightning distributions. A selection of the most active lightning storms was chosen in order to study associated weather patterns.