JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2024, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (3): 219-228.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202206039

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Relationship between characteristics of lightning activity on different underlying surface and forest lightning fire in southwest China

LI Yansong1(), YANG Yanrong1,*(), ZHANG Wenyi1, ZHANG Leying1, HUANG Ao1, ZHANG Yirong2   

  1. 1. College of Ecology and Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
    2. Wuyi Mountain National Park Administration, Nanping 354300,China
  • Received:2022-06-22 Revised:2022-11-01 Online:2024-05-30 Published:2024-06-14

Abstract:

【Objective】 Southwest China is the second largest natural forest region in China, where the ecosystem is fragile and forest lightning fire disasters occur frequently. According to the causal relationship between lightning and forest lightning fire, the characteristics of lightning activities on underlying surfaces with different land cover types and different altitudes, and the influence of lightning activity on forest lightning fire is explored. 【Method】 Based on WWLLN lightning data, land cover data MCD12Q1, altitude data SRTM and corresponding lightning forest fires from 2005 to 2017, combined with Theil-Sen trend analysis, Mann-Kendall trend test, relative density difference analysis. The variation characteristics of lightning activity with underlying surface type and altitude in southwest China and its relationship with forest lightning fire were studied.【Result】 (1) From 2005 to 2017, the cloud-to-ground lightning frequency in southwest China increased at a rate of 8.75% per year. The area near Panzhihua at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan maintains the core area of the highest value in years and seasons. (2) The annual cloud-to-ground lightning frequency was the highest in the underlying surface of savanna at an altitude of 500-1 000 m. The degree of lightning activity is characterized by the relative density difference. It is most active in spring and most active in daytime on a daily scale. The active surface types are concentrated in the 0-1 000 m elevation, Agricultural land/natural vegetation Mosaic, savanna type and urban type. (3) Cloud-to-ground lightning showed an increasing trend in different underlying surfaces, and its area accounted for 93.48% in southwest China. Among them, the growth trend of underlying surface of above 3 500 m altitude and grassland type is the most significant, and the significant area accounts for more than 80% from the elevation and surface type respectively. (4) The higher the annual cloud-to-ground lightning frequency, the greater the probability of lightning fire. The occurrence of forest lightning fire at 0-1 000 m altitude is consistent with the characteristics of the underlying surface of cloud-to-ground lightning distribution, and the lightning fire above 1 000 m altitude is mainly affected by high cloud-to-ground lightning frequency. 【Conclusion】 The lightning activity in southwest China is closely related to the underlying surface altitude and surface type, and the relationship varies with different time scales. As the cause of forest lightning fire, the analysis of lightning activity and forest lightning fire combined with the characteristics of underlying surface can provide scientific support for the protection of natural forest in southwest mountainous area.

Key words: lightning caused forest fire, cloud-to-ground lightning, altitude, land cover type, southwest China

CLC Number: