A Study of Cloud-To-Ground Lightning Activity in Mesoscale Convective Systems

中尺度对流系统（MCS）是美国大陆产生闪电的最大天气系统之一。单个MCS的闪电速度通常超过每小时1000次，持续数小时。Rutledge教授将与美国国家强风暴实验室的MacGorman博士合作，研究雷击的位置和极性与中尺度对流系统的动力学和微物理结构之间的关系。将利用的数据包括闪电探测探测器和双多普勒雷达收集的数据，以及1985年5月至6月在俄克拉何马州和堪萨斯州进行的“风暴前”项目期间进行的卫星红外测量。这种对闪电活动和中尺度对流系统演变的联合、明确的处理是同类研究中的首例。

The mesoscale convective systems (MCS) are one of the greatest lightning producing weather systems in the continental United States. The lightning flash rates from an individual MCS typically exceed 1000 flashes per hour, lasting for several hours. Collaborating with Dr. MacGorman of the National Severe Storms Laboratory, Professor Rutledge will examine the relationship between the position and polarity of lightning strikes and the dynamical and microphysical structure of the mesoscale convective systems. Data to be exploited include those collected by the lightning detection finders and dual Doppler radars, as well as satellite infrared measurements made during the PRE-STORM project, which took place in Oklahoma and Kansas during May-June 1985. This joint, unambiguous treatment of lightning activities and the evolution of mesoscale convective systems is a first of its kind.