The effects of aerosol on development of thunderstorm electrification: A numerical study

Zhao, Pengguo; Yin, Yan; Xiao, Hui

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.09.011

Cited by 42 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Our results showed that the previously reported [1][2][3][4][5] enhancement in the lightning activity of thunderstorms as the concentration of aerosols increases is not universal. Under conditions of ample amounts of water vapor, increasing the aerosol concentration resulted in the formation of more small cloud droplets, reducing the collision coalescence efficiency of the cloud droplets and suppressing the warm rain process.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…At the lowest water vapor content (85% of the baseline sounding), the mean flash rate remained almost constant with increasing aerosol concentrations. Previous studies [1][2][3][4] have also indicated that an increase in the concentration of aerosol particles enhances the intensity of electrical activity. However, this does not apply to all thunderstorms under different conditions, and there are still uncertainties in the effects of aerosol on thunderstorm microphysics and electrification processes.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the aerosol concentration increased, more ice-phase particles were produced in the thunderstorm and participated in the collision separation process under conditions with sufficient vapor, enhancing the thunderstorm electrification process. Previous studies [1][2][3] have suggested that as more ice-phase particles participate in the process of collision separation, the intensity of electrical activity is enhanced. As the amount of water vapor decreases, the response of the concentrations of ice crystals, snow particles, and graupel particles to changes in the aerosol concentration becomes less significant, especially for the water vapor contents <91% of that for the baseline sounding.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further details of the microphysical, electrification, and discharge processes in this model have been discussed by Zhao et al [3].…”

Section: Brief Description Of the Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous simulation studies on the effect of aerosol particles on thunderstorm electrification [1][2][3] have shown that increasing the aerosol concentration leads to the formation of numerous small droplets. These small droplets suppress the collision-coalescence processes and the formation of raindrops.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Role of Water Vapor Content in the Effects of Aerosol on the Electrification of Thunderstorms: A Numerical Study

Zhao

Yin

Xiao³

et al. 2016

Atmosphere

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Abstract:We explored the role of the water vapor content below the freezing level in the response of idealized supercell storm electrical processes to increased concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with parameterizations electrification and discharging, we performed 30 simulations by varying both the CCN concentration and water vapor content below the freezing level. The sensitivity simulations showed a distinct response to increased concentrations of CCN, depending on the water vapor content below the freezing level. Enhancing CCN concentrations increased electrification processes of thunderstorms and produced a new negative charge region above the main positive charge center when there were ample amounts of water vapor below the freezing level. Conversely, there were weak effects on electrification and the charge structure in numerical experiments initialized with lower water vapor content below the freezing level.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further details of the microphysical, electrification, and discharge processes in this model have been discussed by Zhao et al [3].…”

Section: Brief Description Of the Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Role of Water Vapor Content in the Effects of Aerosol on the Electrification of Thunderstorms: A Numerical Study

Zhao

Yin

Xiao³

et al. 2016

Atmosphere

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A Numerical Study of the Effects of Aerosol on Electrification and Lightning Discharges in Thunderstorms

Tan

Chun-Yan

et al. 2017

Chinese J of Geophysics

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Based on existing three‐dimensional (3‐D) thunderstorm electrification and discharge model, this work coupled with a classical parameterization scheme of aerosol activation is used to simulate a case of tropical convection in Changchun. The study shows that the change of aerosol concentration has an important influence on the microphysics, electrification and discharge processes of thunderstorm clouds. The results show that: (1) As the aerosol concentration increases in the polluted thunderclouds, the increase of the number of cloud droplets and the updraft cause the increase of the number of ice crystal and graupel, but the decrease of the scale; (2) Compared to the clean thunderclouds, the non‐induced electrification process is weak, while the induction electrification process is strong, and the duration of electrification become longer in polluted thunderclouds; (3) The first charge time of the polluted thunderclouds delays, but the total lightning frequency increases and duration is longer. Meanwhile, the frequency of the cloud‐to‐ground flash in the polluted thunderclouds increases, and the increase of the positive cloud‐to‐ground flash is more obvious.

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Electrical Structure and Dynamics of a Thunderstorm with Hail in the North-West of the Russian Federation by Three-Dimensional Simulation data

Toropova

Veremei

Mikhailosvkii

et al. 2022

Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences

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The effects of aerosol on development of thunderstorm electrification: A numerical study

Cited by 42 publications

References 74 publications

Role of Water Vapor Content in the Effects of Aerosol on the Electrification of Thunderstorms: A Numerical Study

Role of Water Vapor Content in the Effects of Aerosol on the Electrification of Thunderstorms: A Numerical Study

A Numerical Study of the Effects of Aerosol on Electrification and Lightning Discharges in Thunderstorms

Electrical Structure and Dynamics of a Thunderstorm with Hail in the North-West of the Russian Federation by Three-Dimensional Simulation data

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