Cloud Microphysical Properties from Remote Sensing of Lightning within the Mediterranean

Adamo, C.; Solomon, Robert C.; Medaglia, Carlo Maria; Dietrich, Stefano; Mugnai, A.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-5835-6_10

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Lightning is known to have a strong microphysical origin (MacGorman and Rust, ; Adamo et al ., ) which is important for charge separation processes that lead to the generation of an electric field. It is generally believed that the charge centres in thunderclouds are located in the region where the ice phase is actively involved in the electrification process (Saunders, ; Williams et al ., ; Saunders et al ., ; Yair, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A diagnostic study of cloud physics and lightning flash rates in a severe pre‐monsoon thunderstorm over northeast India

Choudhury

Konwar

Hazra

et al. 2020

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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Numerical simulations of a thunderstorm event that occurred in the pre‐monsoon season over the North‐Eastern region of India (NEI) and Bangladesh are performed using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (ARW, version 3.8.1). Doppler weather radar indicates severe convective activity lasted for more than 10 hr. These extremely deep convective clouds with minimum cloud‐top temperature −70 °C at 19 km were triggered by the mixing of a moist air mass transported from the Bay of Bengal in the south and dry air transported from the northwest. A cyclonic circulation observed over the Tibetan plateau is likely to be associated with the strong southerly low‐level wind over NEI, as the plateau acts as a source of heat‐lows during the pre‐monsoon season. The coexistence of ice particles and supercooled water in the storms resulted in a large number of lightning flashes during the storm as observed from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Lightning Imaging Sensor (TRMM‐LIS). Co‐location of supercooled cloud water droplets helps in forming graupel through riming that plays a vital role in these convective systems. Lightning flashes calculated from WRF simulation using the Morrison microphysical and cloud top height based dynamical lightning parametrization scheme was found comparable with the observed flashes from TRMM‐LIS. Since the WRF model could simulate the thunderstorm, we recommend using this state‐of‐the‐art regional model in thunderstorm and lightning predictions for northeast India which would be useful in preparedness for such extreme events.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A diagnostic study of cloud physics and lightning flash rates in a severe pre‐monsoon thunderstorm over northeast India

Choudhury

Konwar

Hazra

et al. 2020

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…This mechanism requires the presence of large ice hydrometeors (i.e. graupel or hail pellets) that collide with ice crystals in a suspension of supercooled water droplets (Reynolds et al, 1957;Takahashi, 1978;Berdeklis and List, 2001;Adamo et al, 2007). Laboratory studies by Takahashi (1978) and Jayaratne et al (1983) also showed that the charge sign is positive or negative as a function of the cloud temperature and liquid water content (LWC).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observing relationships between lightning and cloud profiles by means of a satellite-borne cloud radar

2017

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Abstract. Cloud electrification and related lightning activity in thunderstorms have their origin in the charge separation and resulting distribution of charged iced particles within the cloud. So far, the ice distribution within convective clouds has been investigated mainly by means of ground-based meteorological radars. In this paper we show how the products from Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) on board CloudSat, a polar satellite of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP), can be used to obtain information from space on the vertical distribution of ice particles and ice content and relate them to the lightning activity. The analysis has been carried out, focusing on 12 convective events over Italy that crossed CloudSat overpasses during significant lightning activity. The CPR products considered here are the vertical profiles of cloud ice water content (IWC) and the effective radius (ER) of ice particles, which are compared with the number of strokes as measured by a ground lightning network (LINET). Results show a strong correlation between the number of strokes and the vertical distribution of ice particles as depicted by the 94 GHz CPR products: in particular, cloud upper and middle levels, high IWC content and relatively high ER seem to be favourable contributory causes for CG (cloud to ground) stroke occurrence.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the article "Observing relationships between lightning and cloud profiles by means of a satellite-borne cloud radar"

2016

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Cloud electrification and related lightning activity in thunderstorms have their origin in the charge separation and resulting distribution of charged iced particles within the cloud. So far, the ice distribution within convective clouds has been investigated mainly by means of ground-based meteorological radars. In this paper we show how the products from Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) on board CloudSat, a polar satellite of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP), can be used to obtain information from space on the vertical distribution of ice particles and ice content and relate them to the lightning activity. The analysis has been carried out, focusing on 12 convective events over Italy that crossed CloudSat overpasses during significant lightning activity. The CPR products considered here are the vertical profiles of cloud ice water content (IWC) and the effective radius (ER) of ice particles, which are compared with the number of strokes as measured by a ground lightning network (LINET). Results show a strong correlation between the number of strokes and the vertical distribution of ice particles as depicted by the 94 GHz CPR products: in particular, cloud upper and middle levels, high IWC content and relatively high ER seem to be favourable contributory causes for CG (cloud to ground) stroke occurrence.

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Cloud Microphysical Properties from Remote Sensing of Lightning within the Mediterranean

Cited by 8 publications

References 4 publications

A diagnostic study of cloud physics and lightning flash rates in a severe pre‐monsoon thunderstorm over northeast India

A diagnostic study of cloud physics and lightning flash rates in a severe pre‐monsoon thunderstorm over northeast India

Observing relationships between lightning and cloud profiles by means of a satellite-borne cloud radar

Review of the article "Observing relationships between lightning and cloud profiles by means of a satellite-borne cloud radar"

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