##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

This study examines in detail lightning activities over West Africa using the worldwide lightning location network (WWLLN). The Worldwide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN; operated by the University of Washington) is a developing, experimental lightning detection network increasingly used for applications. In West Africa, there are many studies on the diurnal process of lightning activity at the regional level, but there is a shortage of literature examining the diurnal variation of lightning observation in this region. Therefore the main objective of the study is to examine the lightning activities over West Africa by presenting an evaluation of the WWLLN data as ground truth to improve the knowledge of ground-based lightning location system. For this study, the diurnal variability of flash counts (frequency) was measured over West Africa for the three climatic sub-region (Guinea, Savannah and Sahel) sub-regions using a line graph to plot the flash counts (frequency) over time. All regions exhibit a strong diurnal variation, with lightning activity peaking in the late afternoon between 1500 and 1700 WAT and decreased in the late morning between 0900 and 1100 WAT. The diurnal amplitude varies by location throughout West Africa.

References

  1. Dwyer JR, Uman MA. The physics of lightning. Phys Rep. 2014; 534(4): 147–241. DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2013.09.004.
     Google Scholar
  2. Price C. Thunderstorms, lightning and climate change. In: Betz HD, Schumann U, Laroche P. Lightning: Principles, instruments and applications. Dordrecht: Springer; 2009: 521–535. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9079-0_24.
     Google Scholar
  3. Arnone EA, Kero BM, Dinelli CF, Enell NF, Arnold E, Papandrea CJ, Rodger M, et al. Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO2, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2008. 35, L05807. doi:10.1029/2007GL031791.
     Google Scholar
  4. Ortega P. A three magnetic direction finder network for a local warning device, J. Light. Res., 2007; 2: 18–27.
     Google Scholar
  5. Rawat GS. Fire risk assessment for forest fire control management in Chilla forest range of Rajaji Natural park ultra ranchal (India), 2003. Thesis work.
     Google Scholar
  6. Romps DM, Seeley JT, Vollaro D, Molinari J. Projected increase in lightning strikes in the United States due to global warming. Science. 2014;346(6211):851–854. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259100.
     Google Scholar
  7. Mayekar M, Kulkarni A, Marakarkandy B. Designing and simulation of low frequency cloud to ground lightning receiver for severe weather monitoring application. Procedia Comput Sci. 2015; 45: 661–670.
     Google Scholar
  8. Blumenthal R, Trengrove E, Jandrell IR, Saayman G. Lightning medicine in South Africa. S Afr Med J. 2012;102(7):625–626. https://doi.org/10.7196/ samj.5219.
     Google Scholar
  9. Gibjen M. Lightning Climatology of Southern Africa with Special Focus on Lightning Risk Maps, 22nd International Lightning Detection Conference, 2 -3 April 2012, Broomfield, Colorado, USA.
     Google Scholar
  10. Frisbie P, Colton J, Pringle J, Daniels J, Meyers MA. forecasting methodology that uses moisture parameters to pinpoint locations of potential lightning. Central Region Technical Attachment. 2013, Number 13-01.
     Google Scholar
  11. Christian HJ, Blakeslee RJ, Boccippio DJ, Boeck WL, Buechler DE, Driscoll KT, et al. Global frequency and distribution of lightning as observed from space by the Optical Transient Detector. J Geophys Res Atmos. 2003; 108(D1): ACL4-1–ACL4-15. https://doi.org/10.1029/2002jd002347.
     Google Scholar
  12. Rodger CJ, Brundell JB, Dowden RL, and Thomson NR. Location accuracy of long distance VLF lightning location network. Ann. Geophys., 2004;22: 747–758.
     Google Scholar
  13. Balogun RA, Adefisan EA, Adeyewa ZD, Okogbue EC, and Akinbobola A. Diurnal Cycle of Rainfall and Convective Properties over West and Central Africa. Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, 2022; 12: 74-85. https://doi.org/10.4236/acs.2022.121006.
     Google Scholar
  14. Adejuwon JO, Odekunle TO. Variability and the severity of the “Little Dry Season” in southwestern Nigeria. J Clim, 2006; 19(3):483–493. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3642.1
     Google Scholar
  15. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/places-in-the-world-where-lightning-strikes-the-most.html.
     Google Scholar
  16. Onah MW, Adéchinan JA, Guédjé FK, Kougbéagbédé H,Houngninou EB. Climatology of the lightning in the northern of Benin Republic. J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2020; 11(12): 1987-2006.
     Google Scholar
  17. Kasparian J, Wolf JP. On lightning control using lasers. In: Yamanouchi K, Giulietti A, Ledingham K, editors. Progress in ultrafast intense laser science. Springer Series in Chemical Physics. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer; 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-64203825 9_6.
     Google Scholar
  18. Ogunjo ST, Dada JB, Fuwape IA. “Spatio-Temporal Variation of Nonlinearity in Trosposphere Zenith Wet Delay over West Africa”, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering, 2020.
     Google Scholar