SPATIAL INHOMOGENEITY OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AND EARTH’S CRAVITY FIELD ANOMALIES

Ershova Tatyana Vladimirovna

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The article presents the analysis of recent data on the global distribution of thunderstorm activity obtained from satellites and ground-based lightning detection systems, as well as the World’s Meteorological stations network. Gravity anomalies are considered as additional reasons for the spatial distribution of thunderstorm activity over the Globe. Analyzes maps of lightning discharges density, and maps of Earth’s gravity field anomalies obtained by NASA satellites. It is shown that the vast global centers of thunderstorm activity in central Africa and South America are associated with areas of slight negative gravity anomalies. An exception is the world thunderstorm outbreak in the region of Indonesia and the Philippines, which is located above the intense positive gravity anomaly. Regional analysis in Central Europe showed the presence of thunderstorm cells over the negative gravity anomalies.

Keywords: thunderstorm, lightning discharges density, gravity field of the Earth, Earth’s gravity field anomalies

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Issue: 11, 2015

Series of issue: Issue 11

Rubric: GEOGRAPHY

Pages: 169 — 173

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