Thunderstorms that occurred over the Tibetan Plateau exhibit special convective structures. Using the data from the accurate lightning VHF interferometer, electric field mill, fast/slow antenna and C-band radar, the evolution of the charge structure of thunderstorms and their influence on lightning discharges are investigated. The evolution of charge structure involved in the lightning discharge of thunderstorm over the central Tibetan Plateau is investigated for the first time. During the developing-mature stage, the TP thunderstorm exhibited a tripolar charge structure. As the thunderstorm developed into its mature stage, a tripole charge structure is clearly presented, with a strong lower positive charge center (LPCC) at temperatures above -10°C, a middle negative charge region between -30°C and -15°C, and an upper positive charge region at T < -30°C. As the LPCC was depleted, the charge structure evolved into a normal tripole with a pocket LPCC. The merging between different convective cells resulted in the formation of two adjacent negative charge regions located directly and obliquely above the LPCC, where different horizontally oriented charge regions were simultaneously involved in the same lightning discharge.
 

青藏高原，雷暴，闪电活动，电荷结构