Electrical soundings in the decay stage of a thunderstorm in the Pingliang region

Zhang, Tinglong; Zhao, Zi‐Fu; Zhao, Yuechao; Wei, Changxiong; Hai, Yu; Zhou, Fangcong

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2015.05.008

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Regarding the configuration of charged regions in the thundercloud, results from numerical modeling indicate that the initiation of +CG flashes requires a stronger, positively charged region above a negative region (Tan et al, ). Such situation can easily occur in the mature stage of thunderstorms in their stratiform cloud region (Marshall et al, ; Rakov & Uman, , chapter 3.3; Stolzenburg et al, , ), where horizontally extensive charge layers keep descending and charged precipitation can weaken a lower negative layer (Marshall et al, ; Zhang et al, ). This is consistent with reports confirming that SP+CGs tend to occur in the late mature stage of mesoscale convective system (MCS) with extensive stratiform regions (Lyons et al, , , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Series of +CG Lightning Strokes in Dancing Sprite Events

Bór¹,

Zelkó

Hegedüs

et al. 2018

JGR Atmospheres

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In dancing sprite events, sprite entities and groups appear in rapid succession together with a corresponding series of parent lightning strokes. Dancing sprite events, including a case with possible sprite rebrightening, were recorded on video simultaneously from two observation sites above a mesoscale convective system in Central Europe on the night of 6 August 2013. Joint analysis of triangulated locations of sprite elements, position, type, and peak current of lightning strokes from the LINET lightning detection network database and current moment waveforms deduced at the Hylaty station, Poland, showed that subsequent sprite-parent lightning strokes occurred no further than 21 km from the closest preceding sprite entity in the cases analyzed in this study. Additionally, it was found that longer sprite delay times tend to correspond to larger sprite location offsets from the parent +CG stroke. These observations, the occurrence of +CG lightning stroke and sprite sequences, as well as sprite-sprite delay times and displacements can be explained if +CG strokes are part of one extended lightning flash. A corresponding production mechanism based on previous findings on the formation of sprite-producing and general +CG lightning discharges is suggested.Plain Language Summary In dancing sprite events, sprites appear in rapid succession together with a corresponding series of parent lightning strokes. Dancing sprite events were recorded on video simultaneously from two observation sites above an extended thunderstorm system in Central Europe on the night of 6 August 2013. Comparison of triangulated sprite locations and the locations of corresponding lightning activity revealed that subsequent sprite-parent lightning strokes occurred below or relatively near the location of the closest preceding sprite entity in the examined cases. In this paper, a mechanism is suggested for the development of lightning flashes that produce dancing sprites. The proposed mechanism accounts for prompt and delayed sprites relative to their parent lightning stroke, highlights the role of the variation of lightning current in sprite production, and can explain the observed closeness of the next +CG lightning stroke to the area of previous sprites.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Series of +CG Lightning Strokes in Dancing Sprite Events

Bór¹,

Zelkó

Hegedüs

et al. 2018

JGR Atmospheres

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“…[] observed E values in anvils that were great enough to endanger aircraft as long as 50 min after a storm's last flash. Zhang et al [] found that while precipitation associated with a storm's downdraft depleted the lower positive layer of a storm's tripole charge structure, a strong electric field was observed over 2 h after the final flash in a nonisolated environment. The charge density of the decaying storm actually increased from 20 min after the last flash to 138 min after last flash.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zhang et al . [] hypothesized that this increase was due to lowering of the cloud top height that subsequently compressed the charge. Other scenarios also are possible.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using radar‐derived parameters to forecast lightning cessation for nonisolated storms

Davey

Fuelberg

2017

JGR Atmospheres

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Lightning impacts operations at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and other outdoor venues leading to injuries, inconvenience, and detrimental economic impacts. This research focuses on cases of “nonisolated” lightning which we define as one cell whose flashes have ceased although it is still embedded in weak composite reflectivity (Z ≥ 15 dBZ) with another cell that is still producing flashes. The objective is to determine if any radar‐derived parameters provide useful information about the occurrence of lightning cessation in remnant storms. The data set consists of 50 warm season (May–September) nonisolated storms near KSC during 2013. The research utilizes the National Lightning Detection Network, the second generation Lightning Detection and Ranging network, and polarized radar data. These data are merged and analyzed using the Warning Decision Support System‐Integrated Information at 1 min intervals. Our approach only considers 62 parameters, most of which are related to the noninductive charging mechanism. They included the presence of graupel at various thermal altitudes, maximum reflectivity of the decaying storm at thermal altitudes, maximum connecting composite reflectivity between the decaying cell and active cell, minutes since the previous flash, and several others. Results showed that none of the parameters reliably indicated lightning cessation for even our restrictive definition of nonisolated storms. Additional research is needed before cessation can be determined operationally with the high degree of accuracy required for safety.

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“…Charges are then separated at the cloud scale by sedimentation, and vertical motions. The strong relationship among lightning, cloud dynamics and microphysical processes means that lightning can be used to monitor the occurrence and development of mesoscale convective systems [3][4][5][6]. Under the influence of thermodynamics, dynamics, or terrain, an ascending air mass can form thunderstorm clouds in a convectively unstable environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Case Study of Assimilating Lightning-Proxy Relative Humidity with WRF-3DVAR

et al. 2017

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Abstract:Lightning network data, considered as a useful supplement to radar observations, are a good indicator of severe convection, and has high temporal and spatial resolution. In Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, lightning data are a new source of data to improve the forecasting of convective systems. In this case study, lightning data assimilation is conducted by converting lightning data to water vapor mixing ratio via a simple smooth continuous function, with input variables of total flash rate and simulated graupel mixing ratio at 9 km gridded resolution. Relative humidity converted from the retrieved water vapor mixing ratio is assimilated into the background field utilizing the three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) method in WRFDA (the Weather Research and Forecasting model Data Assimilation system). The benefits of assimilating lightning data are demonstrated in a series of experiments using data from a strong convection event that affected Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong Province, on 31 July 2007. A nested domain with resolutions of 9 km and 3 km is implemented. For this case, assimilating lightning data shows some improvements in predictions of both reflectivity and neighboring precipitation, and in the temperature, dew-point temperature and relative humidity profile after seven hours.

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Electrical soundings in the decay stage of a thunderstorm in the Pingliang region

Cited by 11 publications

References 24 publications

On the Series of +CG Lightning Strokes in Dancing Sprite Events

On the Series of +CG Lightning Strokes in Dancing Sprite Events

Using radar‐derived parameters to forecast lightning cessation for nonisolated storms

A Case Study of Assimilating Lightning-Proxy Relative Humidity with WRF-3DVAR

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