Radar and Lightning Observations of Deep Moist Convection across Northern Alabama during DC3: 21 May 2012

The Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) experiment seeks to understand the kinematic and microphysical controls on the lightning behavior of deep moist convection. This study utilized multiple dual-polarization Doppler radars across northern Alabama to quantify microphysical and kinematic pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly weather review 2015-07, Vol.143 (7), p.2774-2794
Main Authors: Mecikalski, Retha Matthee, Bain, Anthony L, Carey, Lawrence D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric chemistry
Charge
Climatology
Clouds
Convection
Convective clouds
Correlation
Doppler sonar
Dual polarization radar
Echoes
Graupel
Ice volume
Kinematics
Lightning
Lightning flashes
Mass
Meteorology
Moist convection
Radar
Remote sensing
Storms
Studies
Updraft
Weather
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Summary:The Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) experiment seeks to understand the kinematic and microphysical controls on the lightning behavior of deep moist convection. This study utilized multiple dual-polarization Doppler radars across northern Alabama to quantify microphysical and kinematic properties and processes that often serve as precursors to lightning, such as the graupel echo volume, graupel mass, and convective updraft volume. The focus here was on one multicellular complex that occurred on 21 May 2012 in northern Alabama during DC3. The graupel echo volume and the graupel mass in the charging region correlated well with the total lightning flash rate (FR), and even better than the updraft volumes and maximum updraft velocities. The flash length scales (LS) and flash areas were generally anticorrelated to the FR, while it was correlated to the nonprecipitation ice volume. More specifically, the presence of smaller flashes was associated with a stronger lower positive charge region caused by larger graupel volumes, stronger updraft volumes, and stronger maximum updraft velocities while larger flashes occurred during lower FRs and were associated with a weakened lower positive charge region in combination with a stronger upper positive charge region, weaker updraft velocities, a smaller graupel volume and mass, and an increase in nonprecipitation ice volume.
ISSN:0027-0644
1520-0493
DOI:10.1175/MWR-D-14-00250.1