Charge structures and cloud-to-ground lightning discharges characteristics in two supercell thunderstorms

The charge structures and temporal and spatial characteristics of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning discharges in two supercell thunderstorms have been analyzed based on the data of three-dimensional VHF radiation sources with high time and space resolution produced by lightning discharges. The results indicate that the charge structures in main part (convective region) of the thunderstorms were inverted tripole while a number of positive CG lightning discharges were occurring in the two thunderstorms. The positive CG lightning discharges occurred in main part of the thunderstorms and originated from the positive charge region located at the middle part of the thunderstorms. While a number of negative CG lightning discharges were occurring, the negative CG lightning discharges occurred in the anvil of the thunderstorm. The charge structure is inverted dipole in the region due to the slant of charge structure in main region toward anvil region. The negative charge region located at the upper part of anvil produced a lot of negative CG lightning discharges. No or less CG lighting was produced directly by the charge region located at the lower part of the thunderstorm. The charge region in lower part of the thunderstorm plays an important role for the occurrence of CG lightning from charge region above it.