Rotating Electric Dipole Positive Feedback Model: A New Mechanism for Thunderstorm Cloud Lightning Genesis and Methane Energy Amplification
Abstract
Traditional ice crystal-graupel collision electrification theory has limitations in explaining lightning energy sources, discharge phenomena, seasonal and regional disparities in lightning activity, and the coupling between atmospheric electric fields and cloud-top rotational dynamics. This study, based on cumulonimbus electrical characteristics and strong convective processes with new data, proposes a rotating electric dipole positive feedback model, elucidating the complete physical chain of lightning energy from solar energy to triggering. It explains how fair-weather atmospheric electric fields create a near-surface negative charge environment through electrode effects. Strong updrafts carry water vapor and ions into the cloud-top vortex, forming a rotating electric dipole with positive charges inside and negative charges outside under centrifugal force. After vertical separation of the charge regions, the dipole continuously contracts, leading to nonlinear growth of the electric field. Ultimately, impurity-laden water vapor flow undergoes surface flashover breakdown, triggering lightning and igniting methane microbubbles. Results show methane micro-deflagration significantly enhances lightning energy, promotes carbon cycle closure, and lightning spatiotemporal distribution aligns with model predictions. This model addresses classical theory shortcomings, providing a new framework for atmospheric lightning physics with significant implications for improving lightning forecasting and protection.
Keywords
Citation Information
@article{panxianguang2026,
title={Rotating Electric Dipole Positive Feedback Model: A New Mechanism for Thunderstorm Cloud Lightning Genesis and Methane Energy Amplification},
author={Pan Xian-guang},
journal={Research Square},
year={2026},
doi={https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9451607/v1}
}
SinoXiv