Cloud-to-ground ligthning activity in Colombia and the influence of topography

Lightning activity on the Colombian mountains, where the altitude varies from 0 to more than 5,000 MSL, is studied based on VLF/LF lightning detection data and using a 2012–2013 dataset. The influence of altitude is evaluated by analyzing peak current distributions for cloud-to-ground strokes at different altitude intervals and studying the relationship between ground flash density and altitude gradient vectors. Results show a clear dependence of the flash density on elevation.