The direct comparison of lightning mapping observations by the New Mexico Tech Lightning Mapping Array with realistic models of thundercloud electrical structure and lightning discharges represents a useful tool for studies of electrification mechanisms in thunderstorms, initiation and propagation mechanisms of different types of lightning discharges as well as for understanding of electrical and energetic effects of tropospheric thunderstorms on the upper regions of the Earths atmosphere. For this purpose, the development of efficient numerical lightning models is essential. In this...