AE006-06
Residual corona streamer structure versus space stem formation: distinct origins of the intermittent propagation in positive and negative leaders

Wednesday, 9 December 2020: 17:49
Virtual
Rubin Jiang1, Xiushu Qie2, Zongxiang Li3, Hongbo Zhang4, Xiao Li Jr5, Shanfeng Yuan6, Mingyuan Liu1, Zhuling Sun1, Abhay Srivastava6, Minzhi Liu7, Zilong Ma7 and Guanlin Lv8, (1)Insititute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, (2)Inst. of Atmospheric Physics, Beijing, China, (3)Chengdu University of Information Technology, College of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu, China, (4)Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Beijing, China, (5)Key Laboratory of Middle Atmosphere and Global Environment Observation (LAGEO), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China, (6)Key Laboratory of Middle Atmosphere and Global Environment Observation (LAGEO), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, (7)Nanjing University of information Science & Technology, Key Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation of China Meteorological Administration/ Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing, China, (8)Chengdu University of Information Technology, College of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu, Chengdu, China
Abstract:
We identify and investigate the intermittent propagation of upward positive and negative leaders in rocket-triggered lightning based on comprehensive observations of fine time-resolved optical, current, and electromagnetic fields. We have imaged abrupt corona streamer burst/blooming due to the achievement of a positive leader step, after which the channel weakens and the head degrades. Residual structure is recognized in the area of the previous corona streamer zone in the form of a floating-luminous-segment. It connects with the positive leader head, causing a forward-step and a sharp current pulse. This is to some extent similar to negative leader stepping, in which the space stem/leader emerges in front of the leader head and eventually leads to a connection. The multiple connections between clustered space stems/leaders and the leader head give rise to negative leader branching, but the residual corona streamer structure attached to the positive leader head produces quite rare branches.
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