Understanding the dynamical-microphysical-electrical processes associated with severe thunderstorms over the Beijing metropolitan region

Qie, Xiushu; Yuan, Shanfeng; Chen, Zhixiong; Wang, Dongfang; Liu, Dongxia; Sun, Mengjun; Sun, Zhongchang; Srivastava, Abhay; Zhang, Hongbo; Lu, Jingyu; Xiao, Hui; Bi, Yanfeng; Feng, Lin; Tian, Ye; Xu, Yong; Jiang, Rubin; Liu, Mingyuan; Xian, Xuefu; Duan, Suqing; Su, Debin; Sun, Chengyun; Xu, Wenduo; Zhang, Yijun; Lu, Gaopeng; Zhang, Dalin; Yin, Yan; Yu, Ye

doi:10.1007/s11430-020-9656-8

Cited by 42 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…2, with surface-based convective available potential energy (CAPE) of 3937 J kg −1 at 00:00 UTC. The special terrain condition with mountains in the northwest and ocean in the southeast (Qie et al, 2020), as well as the heat island effect and elevated aerosol loading in the urban region (Zhang et al, 2013;Liu et al, 2018), likely enhanced the convection and was responsible for the occurrence of heavy rainfall and large hail as well as intensive lightning activity in the Beijing area. According to the surface-based automatic weather observation network in Beijing, the average rainfall in the urban area and the eastern region was 10-30 mm, locally exceeding 100 mm.…”

Section: Synoptic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If the space charge magnitude at a grid point exceeds a specific space charge threshold (0.1 nC m −3 herein), this grid point will be involved in discharge within the cylinder during this time step. After each discharge, the charge magnitude is set to 70 % (Rawlins, 1982;Ziegler and MacGorman, 1994) of the summed magnitude for all grid points. Then the charges will be redistributed throughout all discharge volumes and the electric field is recalculated.…”

Section: Model Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By analyzing lightning data from the Beijing Lightning Network (BLNET) and PM 2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm) data, Sun et al (2020) found a positive relationship between flash counts and PM 2.5 concentration prior to the occurrence of a thunderstorm. As a megacity, Beijing has higher aerosol concentration resulting from anthropogenic air pollution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aerosol effects on electrification and lightning discharges in a multicell thunderstorm simulated by the WRF-ELEC model

et al. 2021

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Abstract. To investigate the effects of aerosols on lightning activity, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model with a two-moment bulk microphysical scheme and bulk lightning model was employed to simulate a multicell thunderstorm that occurred in the metropolitan Beijing area. The results suggest that under polluted conditions lightning activity is significantly enhanced during the developing and mature stages. Electrification and lightning discharges within the thunderstorm show characteristics distinguished by different aerosol conditions through microphysical processes. Elevated aerosol loading increases the cloud droplets numbers, the latent heat release, updraft and ice-phase particle number concentrations. More charges in the upper level are carried by ice particles and enhance the electrification process. A larger mean-mass radius of graupel particles further increases non-inductive charging due to more effective collisions. In the continental case where aerosol concentrations are low, less latent heat is released in the upper parts and, as a consequence, the updraft speed is weaker, leading to smaller concentrations of ice particles, lower charging rates and fewer lightning discharges.

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Section: Synoptic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Model Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aerosol effects on electrification and lightning discharges in a multicell thunderstorm simulated by the WRF-ELEC model

et al. 2021

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“…The bipolar lightning flash analyzed in this study is a rocket‐triggered lightning in the SHAndong Triggering Lightning Experiment at 15:47:36 UTC on August 14, 2015. The triggering site is located in Zhanhua (37.82°N, 118.11°E), Shandong Province, China, with the main observation site 970 m away (Jiang et al., 2013; Qie et al., 2021; C. Wang et al., 2012). Radar echo was obtained from an S‐band Doppler weather radar in Binzhou (37.35°N, 117.98°E), 53.41 km away from the triggering site.…”

Section: Observation and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Rocket‐Triggered Lightning Flash Containing Negative‐Positive‐Negative Current Polarity Reversal During Its Initial Stage

Sun

Jiang

et al. 2021

JGR Atmospheres

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A rocket-triggered lightning flash containing negative-positive-negative current polarity reversal during its initial stage is analyzed using multiple synchronized observation data. The flash was triggered under a thunderstorm transition zone between the convective region and the stratiform region. The upward positive leader branched and developed toward the stratiform region. When the negative initial continuous current was decreasing, a negative stepped leader was transformed from a recoil leader on a preexisting positive branch. As the negative leader developed toward the convective region, a breakdown process initiated on a preexisting positive channel and propagated toward the back end of the negative stepped leader, accompanied with a positive electric field change pulse. The current polarity changed from negative to positive about 0.22 ms after the onset of the breakdown process. The negative leader terminated after propagating for 71.08 ms, while scattered discharges on other positive branches maintained to develop, and then the ICC polarity changed from positive to negative. LI ET AL.

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“…The formation of these phenomena is closely related to the microphysical, dynamic, and electrical characteristics of clouds. The current understanding of cloud and precipitation formation should also include the role of electric fields and discharges on various scales in clouds, from corona to lightning [1][2][3][4][5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Thundercloud Features in Different Regions

et al. 2021

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A comparison of thundercloud characteristics in different regions of the world was conducted. The clouds studied developed in India, China and in two regions of Russia. Several field projects were discussed. Cloud characteristics were measured by weather radars, the SEVERI instrument installed on board of the Meteosat satellite, and lightning detection systems. The statistical characteristics of the clouds were tabulated from radar scans and correlated with lightning observations. Thunderclouds in India differ significantly from those observed in other regions. The relationships among lightning strike frequency, supercooled cloud volume, and precipitation intensity were analyzed. In most cases, high correlation was observed between lightning strike frequency and supercooled volume.

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Understanding the dynamical-microphysical-electrical processes associated with severe thunderstorms over the Beijing metropolitan region

Cited by 42 publications

References 70 publications

Aerosol effects on electrification and lightning discharges in a multicell thunderstorm simulated by the WRF-ELEC model

Aerosol effects on electrification and lightning discharges in a multicell thunderstorm simulated by the WRF-ELEC model

A Rocket‐Triggered Lightning Flash Containing Negative‐Positive‐Negative Current Polarity Reversal During Its Initial Stage

Investigation of Thundercloud Features in Different Regions

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