Abstract <p>During the research of a complete stage sliding discharge on a surface of solid dielectric in atmospheric air in pulsed mode, an effect of self-organization of the discharge formation was found. With increase of pulse repetition rate, a change of the current flow pathway occurs. From the surface of a dielectric substrate, starting from a middle part of the discharge gap, the discharge channel shifts to surrounding gas volume. We explained this phenomenon by an accumulating ionization effect within gas volume due to the difference of vibrational relaxation time of oxygen, depending on temperature on dielectric substrate and within gas volume above the surface.</p>