Solar cycle signatures in lightning activity

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics Vol. 24; no. 16; pp. 9119 - 9130
• Main Authors: Chum, Jaroslav, Langer, Ronald, KolmaÅ¡ová, Ivana, Lhotka, OndÅej, Rusz, Jan, Strhárský, Igor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 22.08.2024; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Correlation; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Cosmic radiation; Cosmic ray intensities; Cosmic ray showers; Cosmic rays; Cross correlation; Efficiency; El Nino; El Nino phenomena; El Nino-Southern Oscillation event; Electric fields; Energetic particles; Geomagnetism; Heliospheric magnetic field; Hypotheses; Ionosphere; Lightning; Lightning activity; Lightning frequencies; Lightning location; Magnetic field; Magnetic fields; Magnetopause; Magnetopause reconnection; Magnetosphere; Magnetospheres; Radiation; Sensors; Solar activity; Solar cycle; Solar magnetic field; Southern Oscillation; Southern Oscillation Index; Sunspot numbers; Sunspots; Thunderstorms; Austria; Germany
• ISSN: 1680-7316; 1680-7324
• DOI: 10.5194/acp-24-9119-2024

The cross-correlation between annual lightning frequency and solar activity and the heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) is examined on a global scale using corrected data from the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) for the period 2009 to 2022. Relatively large regions with significant cross-correlation coefficients (p<0.05) between the yearly lightning rates and sunspot number (SSN) are found in eastern Africa, part of South America overlapping with the South Atlantic Anomaly, and the Indian Ocean and west coast of Australia. The main region that shows a significant correlation between lightning activity and the B.sub.y component of the HMF and the magnetopause reconnection Kan-Lee electric field matches the South Atlantic Anomaly quite well. Also shown are areas that show a significant cross-correlation of lightning activity with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation index.