Lightning Measurements from Satellites and Significance for Storms in the Mediterranean

Adamo, C.; Goodman, S. J.; Mugnai, A.; Weinman, J. A.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9079-0_14

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…They found that on a global scale the relationship between columnar precipitation ice mass and lightning flash density is invariant between land, ocean and coastal regimes (in contrast to rainfall), suggesting that the physical assumptions of precipitation-based charging and mixed phase precipitation development are robust. Adamo et al (2009) analyzed the so-called precipitation feature database, which had been developed at the University of Utah using concurrent observations of the LIS, PR and TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) instruments onboard TRMM, for a 3-yr period (December 1997through November 2000 over the southern Mediterranean region. They found that depending on season, there are marked relationships between different flash rate regimes and the vertical PR profiles, which can be useful in determining cloud and precipitation properties when lightning data are available but there are no radar and/or other remote sensing data.…”

Section: Formenton Et Al: Relationships Between Lightning Activitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using a cloud electrification model to study relationships between lightning activity and cloud microphysical structure

Formenton

Panegrossi

Casella

et al. 2013

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this study a one-dimensional numerical cloud electrification model, called the Explicit Microphysics Thunderstorm Model (EMTM), is used to find quantitative relationships between the simulated electrical activity and microphysical properties in convective clouds. The model, based on an explicit microphysics scheme coupled to an ice–ice noninductive electrification scheme, allows us to interpret the connection of cloud microphysical structure with charge density distribution within the cloud, and to study the full evolution of the lightning activity (intracloud and cloud-to-ground) in relation to different environmental conditions. Thus, we apply the model to a series of different case studies over continental Europe and the Mediterranean region. We first compare, for selected case studies, the simulated lightning activity with the data provided by the ground-based Lightning Detection Network (LINET) in order to verify the reliability of the model and its limitations, and to assess its ability to reproduce electrical activity consistent with the observations. Then, using all simulations, we find a correlation between some key microphysical properties and cloud electrification, and derive quantitative relationships relating simulated flash rates to minimum thresholds of graupel mass content and updrafts. Finally, we provide outlooks on the use of such relationships and comments on the future development of this study

show abstract

Section: Formenton Et Al: Relationships Between Lightning Activitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using a cloud electrification model to study relationships between lightning activity and cloud microphysical structure

Formenton

Panegrossi

Casella

et al. 2013

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the near future, mapping of lightning from geostationary orbit at cloud-scale resolution will be possible, thus complementing established surface detection networks (Adamo et al, 2009;Finke, 2009). The launch of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) instrument that will be aboard the next generation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) geostationary satellites (i.e., GOES-R, http://www.goes-r.gov/spacesegment/ glm.html) will allow continuous day and night monitoring of total lightning activity over the Americas and adjacent ocean regions up to 52 degrees north.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…(Adamo et al, 2009). In 1997, the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) was launched aboard the joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the advantages over previous lightning mapping instruments is that it will be able to monitor weather affecting the adjacent ocean regions of the continental United States, and not just the tropics. Some of the mission objectives for the GLM instrument include improvement in severe thunderstorm lead times and false alarm reduction, advancements in the initialization of NWP models through better identification of deep convection, and the creation of lightning climatologies to track decadal changes in lightning activity, among others (Adamo et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Development of a hybrid variational-ensemble data assimilation technique for observed lightning tested in a mesoscale model

Apodaca

Zupanski

DeMaria

et al. 2014

Nonlin. Processes Geophys.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Lightning measurements from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) that will be aboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite -R Series will bring new information that can have the potential for improving the initialization of numerical weather prediction models by assisting in the detection of clouds and convection through data assimilation. In this study we focus on investigating the utility of lightning observations in mesoscale and regional applications suitable for current operational environments, in which convection cannot be explicitly resolved. Therefore, we examine the impact of lightning observations on storm environment. Preliminary steps in developing a lightning data assimilation capability suitable for mesoscale modeling are presented in this paper. World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) data was utilized as a proxy for GLM measurements and was assimilated with the Maximum Likelihood Ensemble Filter, interfaced with the Nonhydrostatic Mesoscale Model core of the Weather Research and Forecasting system (WRF-NMM). In order to test this methodology, regional data assimilation experiments were conducted. Results indicate that lightning data assimilation had a positive impact on the following: information content, influencing several dynamical variables in the model (e.g., moisture, temperature, and winds), and improving initial conditions during several data assimilation cycles. However, the 6 h forecast after the assimilation did not show a clear improvement in terms of root mean square (RMS) errors.

show abstract

“…Indeed they are good proxies to identify location and intensity of convective cells and are continuously and promptly available with a high time rate (usually, every few minutes), for example, Betz et al (2008); Bonelli and Marcacci (2008). On the other hand, the problem of using lightning data for quantitative precipitation estimation is still an unresolved one, since the relationships between rainfall and lightning occurrence appear to be highly ambiguous and variable due to the complex nature of the electrification/precipitation processes, for example, Piepgrass and Krider (1982); Sheridan et al (1997); Tapia et al (1998); Soula et al (1998); Petersen and Rutledge (1998); Rivas Soriano et al (2001); Adamo et al (2007Adamo et al ( , 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lightning-based propagation of convective rain fields

Dietrich

Casella

Paola

et al. 2011

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. This paper describes a new multi-sensor approach for continuously monitoring convective rain cells. It exploits lightning data from surface networks to propagate rain fields estimated from multi-frequency brightness temperature measurements taken by the AMSU/MHS microwave radiometers onboard NOAA/EUMETSAT low Earth orbiting operational satellites. Specifically, the method allows inferring the development (movement, morphology and intensity) of convective rain cells from the spatial and temporal distribution of lightning strokes following any observation by a satellite-borne microwave radiometer. Obviously, this is particularly attractive for real-time operational purposes, due to the sporadic nature of the low Earth orbiting satellite measurements and the continuous availability of ground-based lightning measurements -as is the case in most of the Mediterranean region. A preliminary assessment of the lightning-based rainfall propagation algorithm has been successfully made by using two pairs of consecutive AMSU observations, in conjunction with lightning measurements from the ZEUS network, for two convective events. Specifically, we show that the evolving rain fields, which are estimated by applying the algorithm to the satellite-based rainfall estimates for the first AMSU overpass, show an overall agreement with the satellite-based rainfall estimates for the second AMSU overpass.

show abstract

Lightning Measurements from Satellites and Significance for Storms in the Mediterranean

Cited by 10 publications

References 32 publications

Using a cloud electrification model to study relationships between lightning activity and cloud microphysical structure

Using a cloud electrification model to study relationships between lightning activity and cloud microphysical structure

Development of a hybrid variational-ensemble data assimilation technique for observed lightning tested in a mesoscale model

Lightning-based propagation of convective rain fields

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About