Annales Geophysicae
Annales Geophysicae
ANGEO
Articles | Volume 35, issue 3
Articles | Volume 35, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-583-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-583-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Articles | Volume 35, issue 3
ANGEO Communicates
 | 
24 Apr 2017
ANGEO Communicates |  | 24 Apr 2017

Solar 27-day rotational period detected in wide-area lightning activity in Japan

Hiroko Miyahara, Chika Higuchi, Toshio Terasawa, Ryuho Kataoka, Mitsuteru Sato, and Yukihiro Takahashi

Abstract. A signal of the 27-day solar rotational period is often observed in cloud and lightning activities over the globe. Here we provide evidence of the 27-day periodicity of lightning activity in Japan using daily observational records of lightning for AD 1989–2015. The 27-day period is detected with 4.2 standard deviations, but only in wide-area lightning activity covering more than a 105 km2. The 27-day signal is more prominent around the maxima of solar decadal cycles.

How to cite. Miyahara, H., Higuchi, C., Terasawa, T., Kataoka, R., Sato, M., and Takahashi, Y.: Solar 27-day rotational period detected in wide-area lightning activity in Japan, Ann. Geophys., 35, 583–588, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-583-2017, 2017.
Received: 06 Feb 2017 – Revised: 26 Mar 2017 – Accepted: 27 Mar 2017 – Published: 24 Apr 2017
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Short summary
Detailed analyses of the 27-day solar rotational period in cloud and lightning activities may help in untangling the process of solar influence on weather and climate. We analyzed the lightning data in Japan for AD 1989–2015 and found that the 27-day solar rotational period is seen in wide-area lightning activity. The signal was stronger at the maxima of solar decadal cycles. It was also found that the signal of the 27-day period migrates from the southwest to the northeast in Japan.
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