Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Activity in Mesoscale Convective Complexes

Goodman, S. J.; MacGorman, Donald R.

doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1986)114<2320:ctglai>2.0.co;2

Cited by 79 publications

(61 citation statements)

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“…Consistent with previous merger studies on smaller scales (e.g., Simpson 1980;Westcott 1994), this evidence suggests that the merger increased MCS updraft mass flux and that the enhanced upward flux generated and transported significant precipitation within the anvil region. Similar merger processes were inferred by Goodman and MacGorman (1986) primarily from the observed rapid increase of CG frequency during the development phase of MCCs over Oklahoma.…”

Section: B Merger Events and Mcs Intensificationsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…However, this ratio nearly matches the longer-term value of 4.3% determined by Reap and MacGorman (1989) for warmseason thunderstorms in the Oklahoma-Kansas region. The peak hourly CG rate was 2400 within the initial MCS (2100-2200 UTC), a value similar to the average peak CG frequency (2700 h Ϫ1 ) determined by Goodman and MacGorman (1986) for the larger MCC (Table 1). During its mature stage, the 10-11 June 1985 squall line exhibited much lower rates of approximately 900 h Ϫ1 over a 160 000-km 2 area centered near Wichita, Kansas (Rutledge and MacGorman 1988).…”

Section: Cg Lightningsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…Despite having an area of 40% and a duration of 60% that of the average MCC, this MCS exhibited a peak hourly CG flash rate of about 2400, comparable to an average peak value of 2700 (for 10 MCCs) determined by Goodman and MacGorman (1986). The system total of about 10 000 CG is about 50% that for the MCC average totals.…”

Section: B Cg Behaviormentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Goodman and MacGorman (1986), examined the time-dependent behavior of CG within MCCs and found that MCCs produce an unusually large number of CG flashes over their lifetime (Table 1). A number of recent investigations have summarized the coevolving fields of equivalent reflectivity factor Z e , airflow (in some cases), and CG in mesoscale convective systems (Rutledge and MacGorman 1988;Rutledge et al 1990;Engholm et al 1990;Keighton et al 1991;Schuur et al 1991;Hunter et al 1992;Holle et al 1994;Rutledge and Petersen 1994;Nielsen et al 1994).…”

Section: Fig 1 Scatterplot Of MCC Duration Vs Maximum Area For 161mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

1998

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The evolution of a small, vigorous mesoscale convective system (MCS) over northern Alabama is described using Doppler radar, GOES satellite, surface mesonet, lightning, and sounding data. The MCS formed near noon in a relatively unstable environment having weak synoptic forcing and weak shear. The initiation of separate lines and clusters of deep convection occurred in regions exhibiting cumulus cloud streets, horizontal variations in stratocumulus cloud cover, and variations in inferred soil moisture. MCS growth via merger of storms within clusters and lines, and among the clusters, was accomplished largely through intersection of storm-scale and mesoscale outflow boundaries. The MCS maximum anvil area (ϳ60 000 km 2 at 220 K) and lifetime (8 h) were about 50% that of the typical Great Plains mesoscale convective complex (MCC).Despite its smaller size, this MCS displayed many aspects that typify the mostly nocturnal Great Plains MCS. The precipitation output was highly variable due to the transient nature of the intense convective elements, many of which produced microbursts. The radar measurements documented the formation of a stratiform region along the trailing side of an intense convective line. This stratiform region formed as decaying convective cores coalesced, rather than through advection of precipitation particles directly from the convective region. Combined GOES IR imagery and radar reflectivity analyses within the stratiform region show a sinking anvil cloud top in the presence of increases in the vertical radar reflectivity gradient within the cloud during the maturation of the stratiform region.During its intense developing stages, the MCS generated a peak cloud-to-ground (CG) flash rate of 2400 h Ϫ1 , comparable to rates produced by larger MCCs. Early on, positive CG flashes were most prevalent around intense convective core regions exhibiting strong divergence at anvil level. During the latter stages, the emergence of positive CG was coincident with the formation of a prominent radar bright band within the stratiform region. Thus, a bipole was established, but its length was quite short at approximately 50 km, 25%-50% of the distance documented in other MCSs.

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Section: B Merger Events and Mcs Intensificationsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Cg Lightningsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: B Cg Behaviormentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Fig 1 Scatterplot Of MCC Duration Vs Maximum Area For 161mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

1998

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“…Mesoscale convective systems produce ground flashes by an average rate of 42 flashes min −1 , which consists of about one-fourth of the annual lightning strikes globally (Goodman and MacGorman, 1986;Bond et al, 2001Bond et al, , 2002. Considering the complicated microphysical processes involved in the electrical field buildup and lightning discharge, it is difficult to exactly represent the lightning occurrence in atmospheric models.…”

Section: Lightning Flashes and Lightning Potential Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term impacts of aerosols on precipitation and lightning over the Pearl River Delta megacity area in China

et al. 2011

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Abstract. Seven-year measurements of precipitation, lightning flashes, and visibility from 2000 to 2006 have been analyzed in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, China, with a focus on the Guangzhou megacity area. Statistical analysis shows that the occurrence of heavy rainfall (>25 mm per day) and frequency of lightning strikes are reversely correlated to visibility during this period. To elucidate the effects of aerosols on cloud processes, precipitation, and lightning activity, a cloud resolving -Weather Research and Forecasting (CR-WRF) model with a two-moment bulk microphysical scheme is employed to simulate a mesoscale convective system occurring on 28 Match 2009 in the Guangzhou megacity area. The model predicted evolutions of composite radar reflectivity and accumulated precipitation are in agreement with measurements from S-band weather radars and automatic gauge stations. The calculated lightning potential index (LPI) exhibits temporal and spatial consistence with lightning flashes recorded by a local lightning detection network. Sensitivity experiments have been performed to reflect aerosol conditions representative of polluted and clean cases. The simulations suggest that precipitation and LPI are enhanced by about 16 % and 50 %, respectively, under the polluted aerosol condition. Our results suggest that elevated aerosol loading suppresses light and moderate precipitation (less than 25 mm per day), but enhances heavy precipitation. The responses of hydrometeors and latent heat release to different aerosol loadings reveal the physical mechanism for the precipitation and lightning enhancement in the Guangzhou megacity area, showing more efficient mixed phase processes and intensified convection under the polluted aerosol condition.

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Cloud‐to‐ground lightning activity and radar observations of storms in the pyrénées range area

Molinié

Soula

Chauzy

1999

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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This paper analyses radar observations and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash activity of several thunderstorms occurring over the Pyr6nks range during the night of 23-24 August 1993 and the afternoon of 24 August 1993. The available data consisted of the European meteorological bulletin, the plan position indicator radar scans at three elevations performed by the 5.5 cm wavelength Rodin radar of Toulouse, and the characteristics of the CG lightning strikes.The first thunderclouds began to develop at around 2200 UTC 23 August. Up to 0100 UTC 24 August, we observed three isolated convective cells. We also studied a mesoscale convective system (MCS) occurring during the afternoon of 24 August, and chose to investigate three convective cells embedded within it. These different thunderclouds developed over the Spanish side of the Pydn6es and moved north-eastwards over the mountains. The locations of CG flashes in relation to the reflectivity fields revealed two kinds of CG lightning activity: flashes associated with intense rainfall, and those located in stratiform cloud areas far from the intense precipitating zone. The flash density was larger within the first type and the positive flash proportion was larger in the second type. The amount of large precipitating particles was characterized by the area A(r) covered by reflectivities larger than r dBZ, with r taken as 33 dBZ. The study of the time evolution of A(33) at three altitudes showed that, for the lightning activity associated with intense rainfall, strong reflectivities at high altitude (4.5 km, and sometimes 7.5 km) coincided with large lightning flash rates, though it was the time evolution of the vertical profile of the area covered by precipitation that drove the CG lightning flash rate (or vice-versa). The maximum flash rate coincided with the fall of large precipitating particles. Furthermore, a time lag was observed at the ground between the lightning flash rate and the rainfall rate. The time evolutions of the flash rate and A ( r ) at the lowest elevation of the radar beam (0.6') confirmed this delay. The correlation coefficient between these two parameters for the isolated convective cells reached 0.81 in the best case. The correlation between the lightning activity and precipitation of the whole MCS was less good but, nevertheless, the volume of precipitation per CG lightning flash was of the same order of magnitude for all the cells or MCSs observed. It ranged from 3.2 x lo3 to 46.8 x lo3 m3 flash-', in accordance with the results of other authors.

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Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Activity in Mesoscale Convective Complexes

Cited by 79 publications

References 0 publications

Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

Analysis of a Small, Vigorous Mesoscale Convective System in a Low-Shear Environment. Part I: Formation, Radar Echo Structure, and Lightning Behavior

Long-term impacts of aerosols on precipitation and lightning over the Pearl River Delta megacity area in China

Cloud‐to‐ground lightning activity and radar observations of storms in the pyrénées range area

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