Universal Procedure for Lightning Data Assimilation in Numerical Models of the Atmosphere

The paper considers possibilities of taking into account data from lightning networks in the procedure for lightning data assimilation in numerical models of atmospheric dynamics. A universal procedure is suggested and implemented as a code within the WRF-ARW model. According to the data from lightning detection networks, cells of a computational grid are defined, where lightnings have been recorded. Then moisture is iteratively added in these cells until the occurrence of thermodynamic instability and, hence, convection. The effect of using this procedure on the forecast of precipitation, temperature, and humidity is studied, and the suggested procedure is compared with other lightning assimilation methods. The use of data from lightning detectors makes it possible to locally improve the forecast of heavy precipitation and temperature in areas where thunderstorms were observed. The Peirce–Obukhov coefficient increases from 0.26 to 0.40 when this procedure is used for forecasting heavy precipitation.