Lightning characteristics related to radar morphology and hail distribution in linear convective systems

Based on SAFIR3000 Lightning Location Network and radar data, 58 linear mesoscale convective systems are analyzed occurred in Beijing area from the year of 2007 to 2011. All the linear convective system are classified to six categories by radar morphologies, including leading convective lines with trailing stratiform region, leading stratiform region, leading convective lines with no stratiform region, bow echo of leading line, leading convective lines with parallel stratiform region. The results showed that linear convective systems occurred frequently in summer time over Beijing area, particularly the TS and LS mode, accounted for 58% of the linear MCSs. On average, lightning mainly located in the linear convective region, and less or no lightning located in the trailing stratiform region. The hail-produced linear MCSs generated high +CG lightning percentage than the non-hail-produced system.