Articles | Volume 18, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-1141-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-1141-2025
Development and technical paper
 | 
26 Feb 2025
Development and technical paper |  | 26 Feb 2025

Identifying lightning processes in ERA5 soundings with deep learning

Gregor Ehrensperger, Thorsten Simon, Georg J. Mayr, and Tobias Hell

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Cited articles

Allen, D. J. and Pickering, K. E.: Evaluation of Lightning Flash Rate Parameterizations for Use in a Global Chemical Transport Model, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 107, ACH 15-1–ACH 15-21, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002066, 2002. a
Barnes, E. A., Toms, B., Hurrell, J. W., Ebert-Uphoff, I., Anderson, C., and Anderson, D.: Indicator Patterns of Forced Change Learned by an Artificial Neural Network, J. Adv. Model. Earth Sy., 12, e2020MS002195, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020MS002195, 2020. a
Becerra, M., Long, M., Schulz, W., and Thottappillil, R.: On the Estimation of the Lightning Incidence to Offshore Wind Farms, Electr. Pow. Syst. Res., 157, 211–226, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2017.12.008, 2018. a
Brisson, E., Blahak, U., Lucas-Picher, P., Purr, C., and Ahrens, B.: Contrasting Lightning Projection Using the Lightning Potential Index Adapted in a Convection-Permitting Regional Climate Model, Clim. Dynam., 57, 2037–2051, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-021-05791-z, 2021. a
Brook, M., Nakano, M., Krehbiel, P., and Takeuti, T.: The electrical structure of the hokuriku winter thunderstorms, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 87, 1207–1215, https://doi.org/10.1029/JC087iC02p01207, 1982. a
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Short summary
As lightning is a brief and localized event, it is not explicitly resolved in atmospheric models. Instead, expert-based auxiliary descriptions are used to assess it. This study explores how AI can improve our understanding of lightning without relying on traditional expert knowledge. We reveal that AI independently identified the key factors known to experts as essential for lightning in the Alps region. This shows how knowledge discovery could be sped up in areas with limited expert knowledge.
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