Modulation of African lightning and rainfall by the global five day wave

Abstract

Using a field station in Rhode Island, we record electromagnetic transients caused by global mesoscale lightning activity in the Schumann resonance band (3Hz-50Hz). For this thesis, mesoscale lightning flashes originating in Africa were analyzed and compared to the phase and amplitude of a five day global pressure wave and African easterly waves. Evidence was also presented for the mesoscale lightning to be correlated with African rainfall and kinetic energy. The five day global pressure wave was located in terms of phase and amplitude for every day of the years 1989, 1996, and 1998. This global pressure wave seems to have a certain phase relationship with African convection and could possibly be modulating rainfall and lightning by a factor of two. Evidence is also presented for the possible modulation of African easterly waves by the five day wave.