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

Abstract

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

Multi-sensor analysis of convective activity in central Italy during the HyMeX SOP 1.1

“…However, it is worth noting that the LINET network detects more CG than IC strokes, and the lower correlation could also be due to the large baseline between sensors near the coast (Zinner et al, 2013), which can cause a reduced detection efficiency and significant impact on the detection of weak ICs. In particular Formenton et al (2013) showed higher LINET performances in ICs' detection in the area of Munich compared to the area of Rome where baseline is larger. Since the best correlation was found for the −CG, the time evolution of the graupel total mass and −CG was examined (Fig.…”

Representation of microphysical processes in cloud‐resolving models: Spectral (bin) microphysics versus bulk parameterization

“…These parameters diagnosed from a given snow mass mixing ratio at every grid Reviews of Geophysics 10.1002/2014RG000468 point for each time step. Formenton et al [2013aFormenton et al [ , 2013b used an observed relation between the parameters of the gamma distributions, obtained by Heymsfield et al [2002] in an analysis of aircraft data from various field campaigns.…”

Observing relationships between lightning and cloud profiles by means of a satellite-borne cloud radar

“…This generates the in-cloud electric field distribution that initiates lightning when the field exceeds values of 100-250 kV m −1 (Marshall et al, 1995a, b). This is the foundation for numerical models like the 1-D Explicit Microphysics Thunderstorm Model (Solomon and Baker, 1996;Solomon et al, 2005) used to study the relationships between lightning activity and cloud microphysical structure (Formenton et al, 2013).…”