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Abstract

Aerosols contribute to increased lightning activity by influencing cloud microphysical processes and acting as cloud condensation nuclei, resulting in cloud formation and electrical activity. 15 years (from 2000 to 2014) of measured cloud fraction, ice cloud optical thickness, aerosol optical depth, and lightning density data from Ilam, a city in western Iran, were analyzed to investigate the potential relationships between aerosol optical depth, cloud properties, and lightning density. This region has the most lightning activity, but it is also affected by dust systems due to its geographical and climatic location, as well as its proximity to neighboring countries' deserts. During lightning days, the daily cloud fraction, ice cloud optical thickness, and aerosol optical depth data were obtained from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer, and the lightning density data was derived from the lightning imaging sensor and the optical transient detector. The results from thunder days show that increasing the aerosol loading increases convection intensity and thus lightning density. Aerosol optical depth has a moderately positive relationship with lightning. Also, cloud fraction, ice cloud optical thickness, and lightning density have a low but positive correlation.