The Cloud Discharge in Winter Thunderstorms of the Hokuriku Coast

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Abstract
Multistation observation of the electric field-changes due to lightning discharges have been made around Unoke near Kanazawa during the winters of 1976-1977 and 1977-1978. The following characteristics of the cloud discharge have been found from these observa-tions by using the data of 221 cloud discharges in seven storms. (1) The occurrence frequency of the cloud discharge is 77% of all lightning discharges. The average duration of the cloud discharge is 330ms. (2) The cloud discharges are preferentially initiated by ascending negative streamers in contrast with those in summer storms, which are initiated by descending positive streamers. (3) The winter thunderstorms can be classified into three types in accordance with the direction of the streamer development in cloud discharge and with the polarity of ground discharges. (4) In the storm on Dec. 2, 1977 the heights of positive and negative charges were estimated; they were about 6 km and 3 km, which corresponded to the temperature heights of -30°C and -10°C respectively in the storm cloud.

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