Electrification life cycle of incipient thunderstorms

This work evaluates how clouds evolve to thunderstorms in terms of microphysical characteristics to produce the first intracloud (IC) and cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning flashes. Observations of 46 compact isolated thunderstorms during the 2011/2012 spring‐summer in Southeast Brazil with an X‐band po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres 2017-04, Vol.122 (8), p.4670-4697
Main Authors: Mattos, Enrique V., Machado, Luiz A. T., Williams, Earle R., Goodman, Steven J., Blakeslee, Richard J., Bailey, Jeffrey C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clouds
Crystals
dual‐polarization radar
Electric fields
Electrification
Evolution
first cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash
first radar echo
Geophysics
Graupel
Ice
Ice crystals
Intracloud discharges
Life cycle
Life cycles
Lightning
Lightning activity
Lightning flashes
Lightning Localization System
Lightning location
Lightning-thunderstorm relationships
Mixed layer
Nowcasting
Polarimetric radar
Radar
Rain
Raindrops
Reflectance
supercooled raindrops
Superhigh frequencies
Thunderstorms
Vertical profiles
Visual observation
Weather
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Summary:This work evaluates how clouds evolve to thunderstorms in terms of microphysical characteristics to produce the first intracloud (IC) and cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning flashes. Observations of 46 compact isolated thunderstorms during the 2011/2012 spring‐summer in Southeast Brazil with an X‐band polarimetric radar and two‐ and three‐dimensional Lightning Location Systems demonstrated key parameters in a cloud's vertical structure that produce the initial electrification and lightning activity. The majority (98%) of the first CG flashes were preceded (by approximately 6 min) by intracloud (IC) lightning. The most important aspect of the observations going into this paper, which came originally from the visual examination of a large number of thunderstorms, is that an initial positive differential reflectivity (ZDR) (associated with supercooled raindrops) evolved to reduced ZDR (and even negative values) in the cloud layer between 0° and to −15°C before and during the time of the initial lightning, suggesting evolution from supercooled raindrops to frozen particles promoting the formation of conical graupel. An enhanced negative specific differential phase (KDP) (down to −0.5° km−1) in the glaciated layer (above −40°C) was predominantly observed at the time of the first CG flash, indicating that ice crystals, such as plates and columns, were being vertically aligned by a strong electric field. These results demonstrate that the observations of ZDR evolution in the mixed layer and negative KDP in the upper levels of convective cores may provide useful information on thunderstorm vigor and lightning nowcasting. Key Points The majority of the first cloud‐to‐ground flashes are preceded by intracloud lightning Initial positive differential reflectivity anomaly is present aloft, associated with supercooled raindrops Reduced differential reflectivity is present before and during the time of the initial lightning flash
ISSN:2169-897X
2169-8996
DOI:10.1002/2016JD025772