Abstract
Comment
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Poster
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IAMAS
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M14 - Lightning, Thunderstorms and Atmospheric Electricity
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Regular Pulse Bursts: Near-Light-Speed Breakdown and Slow Propagation in Lightning Discharges
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1. Xiangpeng Fan*, Department of Plateau Atmospheric Physics / Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,Gansu,China
2. Paul Krehbiel, Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research,Geophysical Research Center,New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,New Mexico 87801,USA
3. Yijun Zhang, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences,Fudan University,Shanghai 200438,China
4. Xiushu Qie, Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Extreme Meteorology,Institute of Atmospheric Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100029,China
5. Mark Stanley, Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research,Geophysical Research Center,New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,New Mexico 87801,USA
6. William Rison, Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research,Geophysical Research Center,New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,New Mexico 87801,USA
7. Xiangjuan Fan, School of Mechanical Engineering,Lanzhou Petrochemical University of Vocational Technology,Lanzhou 730060,Gansu,China
8. Xianhong Meng, Department of Plateau Atmospheric Physics / Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,Gansu,China
9. Ye Yu, Department of Plateau Atmospheric Physics / Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,Gansu,China
10. Guo Zhao, Department of Plateau Atmospheric Physics / Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,Gansu,China
*Presenting Author
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Lightning discharges involve complex physical processes, yet the behavior of regular pulse bursts pulses (RPBs) remains underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a detailed analysis of RPBs using interferometric and 3D lightning mapping array (LMA) techniques. The primary objective is to understand the occurrence, propagation characteristics, and physical mechanisms of RPBs within lightning channels. Utilizing these methods, we found that RPBs typically occur at the ends of K-event channels or within bifurcation channels created by positive leaders. The channel development speed of RPBs is approximately 106 m/s, whereas the breakdown speed of individual pulses can approach the speed of light (~108 m/s), marking the fastest observed breakdown speeds in lightning events. Additionally, we observed that pulse intervals increase as the RPB process progresses, which may be linked to charge accumulation and breakdown thresholds. A correlation between VLF electric field waveforms and VHF radiation fields was also identified, revealing that RPB development follows three stages: breakdown, compensation, and potential buildup. These novel findings offer deeper insights into the mechanisms of lightning discharges, paving the way for more accurate predictive models and suggesting future research directions for understanding RPB behavior in diverse lightning scenarios.