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Arid Land Geography ›› 2022, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5): 1402-1414.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2021.555

• Climate Change • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of lightnings disasters in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2020

LIU Zhaoxu1,2,3,4(),LIU Jing1,2,4(),FAN Zi’ang3   

  1. 1. Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
    2. Center for Central Asia Atmosphere Sciences Research, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
    3. Center for Xinjiang Lightning Protection and Disaster Reduction, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
    4. National Observation and Research Station of Desert Meteorology, Taklimakan Desert of Xinjiang/Taklimakan Desert Meteorology Field Experiment Station of China Meteorological Administration/Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Meteorology and Sandstorm, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2021-11-23 Revised:2022-01-20 Online:2022-09-25 Published:2022-10-20
  • Contact: Jing LIU E-mail:847592455@qq.com;994365768@qq.com

Abstract:

Based on the statistical data related to lightning disasters from 2005 to 2020 and lightning location monitoring data in Xinjiang, China from 2013 to 2020, in this work, the characteristics of lightning disasters in Xinjiang were analyzed focusing on the industrial distribution, human casualties, and economic losses. The results showed: (1) There were 154 lightning disasters in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2020; these events resulted in 82 casualties. The annual variation in lightning disaster events showed a decrease across the studied period. Lightning disasters were more common in the period April-August, which is consistent with ground lightning activity in Xinjiang. (2) Lightning disasters were mainly concentrated in Altay Prefecture, the southeastern Tacheng Prefecture and Ili River Valley, whereas lightning disasters rarely occurred in southern Xinjiang. (3) Lightning disasters mainly occurred in rural areas, accounting for 62.3% of all disasters. The most common industrial damage caused by lighting disaster events was related to civil electronic equipment, factory equipment, electric power equipment, and buildings (in order of frequency). This study provides a theoretical foundation for lightning prevention and disaster reduction in Xinjiang.

Key words: lightning disaster events, spatial and temporal distribution, ground lighting activity, Xinjiang