Lightning characteristics over central India during Indian summer monsoon

Lightning data, of last 12 years (1998 to 2009) measured by TRMM satellite, over central India (Lat, 15.5° N to 25.5° N and Lon, 75° E to 85° E) during Indian summer monsoon (July, August and September) have been analyzed to study the effect of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) on lightning activity during monsoon and time evolution of lightning over this region. Analysis suggests that CAPE plays important role in the lightning activity during monsoon over central India. The CAPE shows no significant change during transition of monsoon from break to active or from active to break phase. Time evolution of lightning over central India, in the last 12 years shows a systematic increase in lightning activity over central India and this increase in lightning over this region is attributed to the increase in CAPE. The lightning data show a typical diurnal pattern with a strong peak at 1700 h local time (LT). Such a typical diurnal variation of lightning and its good positive correlation with CAPE suggest that the monsoon convections over central India are not purely of oceanic based type but they are combination of oceanic and continental type convections.