Numerical simulation of the relationship between electrification and microphysics in the prelightning stage of thunderstorms

To further investigate the influence of cloud base temperature, updraft velocity and precipitation particle constitution on cloud electrification, five thunderstorms in various regions of China were simulated by using the three-dimensional compressible hailstorm numerical model including inductive and non-inductive charging mechanisms. The results indicate that changes of cloud base temperature have an influence on the initial electrification. Comparison of the above cases shows that in the case of warm cloud base and moderate updraft velocity (< 20 m s^{−  1}), active electrification occurred below the − 10 °C level before moving upward to the − 20 °C level. In contrast, when cloud base is cold and updraft velocity is intensive, the main charging region is at the − 20 °C or even higher level. In that case, the vertical extent of the main negative charge region becomes larger with the increase of cloud base temperature. Apart from the main dipolar or tripolar charge structure, some smaller charge regions with relatively high values of charge density may also appear. Frozen drops, originating mainly from supercooled raindrops, mainly get electrified through charging interactions with snow at or below the − 20 °C level. They are responsible for the negative charge region near the melting level at the initial stage of precipitation if there is a large supercooled raindrop content. Non-inductive charging during hail-snow collisions is rather weak, resulting in the charge density on hail of no more than − 0.01 nC m^− 3.     

Charge structure of a summer thunderstorm in North China: Simulation using a Regional Atmospheric Model System

Electrification and simple discharge schemes are coupled into a 3D Regional Atmospheric Model System （RAMS） as microphysical parameterizations, in accordance with electrical experiment results. The dynamics, microphysics, and electrifi- cation components are fully integrated into the RAMS model, and the inductive and non-inductive electrification mechanisms are considered in the charging process. The results indicate that the thunderstorm mainly had a normal tripole charge structure. The simulated charge structure and lightning frequency are basically consistent with observations of the lightning radiation source distribution. The non-inductive charging mechanism contributed to the electrification during the whole lifetime of the thunderstorm, while the inductive electrification mechanism played a significant role in the development period and the mature stage when the electric field reached a large value. The charge structure in the convective region and the rearward region are analyzed, showing that the charge density in the convective region was double that in the rearward region.     

Charge source of cloud-to-ground lightning and charge structure of a typical thunderstorm in the Chinese Inland Plateau

GPS-synchronized measurements of electric (E) field changes induced by lightning flashes were recorded at six stations in the northeastern verge of the Tibetan Plateau. The height and magnitude of charge neutralized by 65 return strokes, including 16 negative cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes and 2 positive CG flashes, have been fitted with the nonlinear least-square method based on the E field changes of CG flashes observed in a typical thunderstorm with larger-than-usual lower positive charge center (LPCC). Results show that the height of the charge region neutralized by negative CG flashes ranges from 3 km to 5 km above the ground, corresponding to an ambient temperature between − 2 °C and − 15 °C. For the two positive CG flashes, the neutralized charge regions are located at a height of about 5.5 km and the ambient temperature is about − 18 °C, indicating the existence of upper positive charge in the thunderstorm.     

Optical observations of transient luminous events associated with winter thunderstorms near the coast of Israel

We report the results of two observation campaigns conducted during the Northern Hemisphere winters of 2005–6 and 2006–7 aiming to detect transient luminous events (TLEs) above winter thunderstorms in the vicinity of Israel and the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. In 10 out of 31 different observation nights we detected 66 events: 56 sprites and 10 Elves. The detection ranges varied from 250 to 450 km. Sprites were found to be produced by active cells with a vertical dimension of 5–9 km and cloud top temperature ~ − 40 °C, embedded in a much larger matrix of stratiform precipitating cloudiness. This configuration closely resembles the conditions for winter sprites in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Synchronized with the optical observations, ELF data were recorded at two observation stations in Israel and Hungary in order to qualify and quantify parameters of the parent lightning discharge associated with the TLEs. These stations are located 500 km and 2100 km respectively from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where most TLEs occur. Among the optically observed TLE events, we found that all the ELF signals were produced solely by positive cloud-to-ground flashes (+ CGs), most of which were recorded in Israel (88%) and Hungary (77%). Calculation of the Charge Moment Change showed average values of 1400 ± 600 C km, with some extreme events exceeding 3500 C km. The average time delay between the ELF transient of the parent + CG and the observed sprites was 55 ms, with shorter delays for column sprites (42 ± 34 ms) compared to carrot sprites (68 ± 34). Furthermore, based on the ELF data, there were no early identifiable precursors to TLE occurrence in the regional lightning activity. From the spatial formation of the observed columniform sprites, we propose that columniform sprites are sometimes arranged in a 3-dimensional circular pattern, thus mapping the instantaneous electric field in the mesosphere.     

Description and first results of an explicit electrical scheme in a 3D cloud resolving model

The three-dimensional non-hydrostatic mesoscale model MésoNH of the French community offers the numerical environment to develop a cloud electrification scheme in a consistent way with the original mixed phase microphysical scheme. The charge separation mechanisms are entirely due to non-inductive processes and result from elastic ice–snow, ice–graupel and snow–graupel collisions. The electric charges carried by each of the five hydrometeor categories are transported along the airflow and are exchanged according to the various microphysical mass transfer rates but assuming a power law distribution of the individual charges as a function of the particle size. The electric field is diagnosed at each time step after integrating the electric potential induced by a net charge density in the Poisson equation. Finally, a lightning ash is triggered when the electric field locally steps over a given threshold. It propagates in two opposite directions until the magnitude of the electric field falls below a prescribed value. A fractal branching algorithm is then activated to extend lightning streamers away from the main channel and toward cloudy regions where substantial charge densities are present. Charges are neutralized along the tortuous lightning path with a simple procedure that preserves total charge conservation.The complete electrification scheme tested for an ideal case of vigorous supercellular storm shows an intense electrical activity all along its lifecycle. We show that the model is able to produce a direct tripolar structure of the charges as the result of a temperature charge reversal of − 10 °C and of the different sedimentation rates of the hydrometeors.     

播撒金属丝对雷暴云电结构影响模拟研究

利用积云动力一起电二维轴对称模式,模拟分析了雷暴不同发展阶段在云中上升气流速度最大区播撒金属丝对雷暴云电结构的总体影响。通过与未播撒模拟结果相比较,发现各种降水粒子的荷电率及电场强度都有所减小,这种减小在雷暴发展的成熟阶段尤为明显,雷暴云内的扩散、电导和感应起电机制作用减弱。通过不同播撒位置和播撒率的敏感性试验得到,在云中强上升所泫区播撒对垂直电场的抑制效果比在云底和云顶更好,不同的播撒率引起的电     

Contribution of the ground corona ions to the convective charging mechanism

The convective charging mechanism of thunderclouds is based on the vertical transport of space charge generated by corona from ground irregularities under the influence of the surface electric field. The present work estimates the amount of charge which is expected to reach cloud base by conduction and convection processes during the lifetime of a thunderstorm. This estimate is made using the numerical model PICASSO, previously designed to characterize the evolution of this corona space charge between ground level and cloud base. Experimentally determined values of surface electric field are introduced into the model in order to initiate the computation. These values are based on six events documented during four different field experiments carried out in Florida and in France. As an upper limit, the convective transport is uniformly applied as a linearly increasing vertical air speed profile and competes with the conductive transport. The fraction of the positive charge generated at the surface by corona which finally reaches the upper limit of the layer varies between 26 and 86%, essentially depending on the electric field evolution at altitude. Assuming that the vertical transport conditions remain the same over an area of 10 km×10 km, the overall charge amount can be roughly estimated. It ranges between about 63 and over 300 C. Because the present assumptions probably lead to an overestimate of these amounts, such a range suggests that the convective charging mechanism is unlikely to be able to account for the major electrification process of the thundercloud. However, it could be considered as a relevant mechanism contributing to the lower positive charge center of the thundercloud, often observed close to cloud base.     

A multiparameter radar case study of the microphysical and kinematic evolution of a lightning producing storm

Summary We examine the co-evolving microphysical, kinematic, and electrical characteristics of a multi-cell thunderstorm observed on 21 May 1993 along the Front Range of Colorado using data collected with the 11 cm, multiparameter, CSU-CHILL Doppler radar. The measured polarimetric variables provide information on the size, shape, orientation, and thermodynamic phase of hydrometeors. Recent modeling and observational advances in weather radar polarimetry now permit the inference of bulk-hydrometeor types and mixing ratios, and the measurement of precipitation rate in mixed-phase (i.e., hail and rain) environments. We have employed these and other radar techniques, such as dual-Doppler analyses, to investigate the correlation between the convective life cycle of a multi-cell storm and the evolution of lightning type and flash rate.The observations suggest a strong correlation between the radar-inferred graupel volume suspended in a vigorous updraft in upper-portions of the storm and the in-cloud (IC) lightning flash rate. Our analyses reveal that maxima in the hail rate are related to peaks in the cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash rate. Both correlation's are consistent with the non-inductive charging mechanism which relies on collisions between graupel/hail particles and ice crystals in the presence of supercooled water. Peaks in storm outflow are shown to either lag or to coincide with maxima in both the CG flash rate and hail rate. The amount and vertical location of ice in this storm was also related to the strength and polarity of the electric field through observations of a Field Excursion Associated With Precipitation (FEAWP) and a subsequent microburst. We demonstrate that the FEAWP was coincident with the descent of graupel and small hail below the charge reversal level as explained by the non-inductive charging mechanism, and that the further descent of graupel and small hail below the melting level aided in the generation of a microburst near the surface. Using observations of the FEAWP, we present some comparative speculation on the microphysics of the associated lower positive charge center and the applicability of various laboratory charging studies.With 14 Figures     

Intracloud discharge and the correlated basic charge structure of a thunderstorm in Zhongchuan, a Chinese Inland Plateau region

The intracloud (IC) discharge is closely related to the charge structure of thunderstorms. The location, charge moment and polarity of intracloud discharges have been analyzed by using the electric field changes from a 7-site network of slow antennas synchronized by GPS with 1 μs time resolution in the area of Zhongchuan in the Chinese Inland Plateau. Ten IC flashes, from a storm on August 20, 2004, have been fitted by using the non-linear least-square solution. The results show that five IC flashes occurred between the main negative charge region and the lower positive charge region and other five between the main negative charge region and the upper positive charge region during the mature stage of the thunderstorm. The centers of discharge were 3.2–5.6 km and 6.8–7.7 km above sea level. The neutralized moments were about 4.56–61.0 C km and 1.06–15.9 C km. It suggests that the charge structure related to the lightning discharge can be represented by a tripole but with a strong positive charge region in the lower part of the thunderstorm, with the lower positive charge region taking an active role in the discharge.     

Diurnal phase of late-night against late-afternoon of stratiform and convective precipitation in summer southern contiguous China

Using the tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) observations combined with the surface rain gauge data during 1998–2006, the robust diurnal features of summer stratiform and convective precipitation over the southern contiguous China are revealed by exploring the diurnal variations of rain rate and precipitation profile. The precipitation over the southern contiguous China exhibits two distinguishing diurnal phases: late-night (2200–0600 LST) and late-afternoon (1400–2200 LST), dependent on the location, precipitation type and duration time. Generally, the maximum rain rate and the highest profile of stratiform precipitation occur in the late-afternoon (late-night) over the southeastern (southwestern) China, while most of the stratiform short-duration rain rate tends to present late-afternoon peaks over the southern China. For convective precipitation, the maximum rain rate and the highest profile occur in the late-afternoon over most of the southern contiguous China, while the convective long-duration rain rate exhibits late-night peaks over the southwestern China. Without regional dependence, the convective precipitation exhibits much larger amplitude of diurnal variations in both near surface rain rate and vertical extension compared with stratiform precipitation and the convective rain top rises most rapidly between noon and afternoon. However, there are two distinctive sub-regions. The diurnal phases of precipitation there are very weakly dependent on precipitation type and duration time. Over the eastern periphery of the Tibetan Plateau, the maximum rain rate and the highest profile of either convective or stratiform precipitation occur in the late-night. Over the southeastern coastal regions, both the near surface rain rate and rain top of convective and stratiform precipitation peak in the late-afternoon.     

对流强度对雷暴云微物理发展和电荷结构影响的数值模拟

为了探讨对流强度大小对雷暴云内微物理发展和起电过程的影响,基于已有的二维积云起、放电模式,改变其扰动温度进行敏感性试验。试验结果表明:对流强度对雷暴云内微物理过程、起电率及后续电荷结构的产生均有一定程度的影响:1）对流强度较小时,冰晶粒子极大值在高温区（高于-13.8℃）出现,对流强度较大时,上升风明显增强,将更多的水汽带入高空,气溶胶活化过程明显增强,使得云滴粒子明显增多,冰晶粒子较早产生,冰晶粒子极大值在低温区（低于-13.8℃）出现,发展过程更为剧烈;同时,较高的对流强度也使得降雨量增多,霰粒子数目也在对流发展旺盛时期显著增多。2）非感应起电率主要和冰晶-霰的碰并分离过程有关,对流强度较大时,非感应起电率较大,电荷结构持续时间较长,过程明显,感应起电率也较强。3）对流强度较大时,电荷结构更为复杂,雷暴云发展初期基本呈现为三极性,发展旺盛时期底部正电荷区域嵌入一个较小的负电荷区,呈现四极性电荷结构,雷暴云发展末期基本呈现偶极性电荷结构;对流强度较小时,发展初期、旺盛时期均呈现三极性电荷结构,发展末期呈现偶极性电荷结构。     

Characteristics and simulation of lightning current waveforms during one artificially triggered lightning

In the summer of 2005, one negative lightning flash was artificially triggered in Shandong Province (117°48′ E, 37°42′N), middle latitude region of eastern China. The flash included 10 return strokes, and the geometric mean value of the current peak was 11.9 kA (the average value was 12.6 kA) with a maximum of 21.0 kA and a minimum of 6.6 kA, similar to the subsequent return strokes in natural lightning. The geometric mean value of half peak width was 39 μs (the average value was 40 μs), which was much larger than the usual result. Based on the Diendorfer and Uman (DU) model, the return-stroke current waveforms and charge distribution along the lightning channel are discussed. The simulated current waveforms, being divided into breakdown and corona current components, are in agreement with the optical measurements when the two different discharge time constants are properly chosen.     

Modeling the electric structures of two thunderstorms and their contributions to the global circuit

This study examines the electricity in two thunderstorms, typical for their respective locales (the Great Plains and the New Mexico mountains), by modeling them as a set of steady-state horizontal layers of external currents. The model electric sources, corresponding to the charge separation processes in the thundercloud, are embedded in an exponential conducting atmosphere. The source parameters are determined by fitting the model electric field to measured profiles. The resulting currents to the ionosphere (i.e., the Wilson current) from the two storms are 0.53 A and 0.16 A, while the calculated electrical energies of the storms are 2.3 × 10¹⁰ J and 2.8 × 10⁹ J, respectively. The more vigorous storm is estimated to transfer 16 000 C in the global circuit during 8.5 h of its lifetime, while the weaker mountain storm transferred about 1200 C in its entire 2-h lifetime. Removal of the screening charge layer from above the updraft region in one modeled storm leads to only a small increase in the net Wilson current of less than 3%, while it provides a substantial local disturbance of the electric field. Overall, the model findings indicate that differences in the Wilson currents and electrical energies of the two storms result from differences in their internal dynamical and electrical structures as well as their geographical locations.     

三维强风暴动力-电耦合数值模拟研究Ⅰ:模式及其电过程参数化方案

为了研究风暴中的动力、微物理和电过程三者间的相互作用 ,在已有的工作基础上 ,建立了一个三维强风暴动力 电耦合数值模式。模式中将云中水物质分为水汽、云水、雨水、冰晶、雪、霰和雹 7类 ,各种粒子采用双变参数谱。考虑了详细的起电过程 ,它们包括扩散、电导、感应和非感应以及次生冰晶起电机制。此外 ,在模式中加入了云内放电参数化过程和云顶处屏蔽电荷层形成的参数化方案用以研究整个雷暴生命史内的电活动特征。最后利用CCOPE(CooperativeConvectivePrecipitationExperiment)计划中 1981年 7月 19日的风暴资料对模式的性能进行了验证 ,模拟结果显示此模式可以较好地描述风暴中动力、微物理和电结构的发展演变过程。     

基于多源资料的积层混合云降水微物理特征

基于地基云雷达、微雨雷达和天气雷达等遥测设备观测资料,结合挂载KPR云雷达和DMT粒子测量系统的飞机平台,详细分析了山东积层混合云降水过程的云降水微物理结构特征。结果表明,积层混合云降水过程呈现层状云和对流云降水特征。零度层以上,5～6 km高度层内,对流云降水多普勒速度和谱宽均大于层状云,说明对流云降水环境垂直气流、粒子尺度等均大于层状云。对流云降水,云雷达和微雨雷达时空剖面上出现由衰减造成的“V”字形缺口,云雷达衰减程度大于微雨雷达,且随高度增加,衰减越大。层状云降水,零度层亮带附近,雷达反射率因子跃增高度比多普勒速度高80 m,多普勒速度跃增高度又比谱宽高20 m。降水云系零度层附近降水机制复杂,粒子形态有辐枝冰晶聚合物、针状冰晶聚合物和云滴;0°C层以上,5～6 km处,对流云降水的多普勒速度和谱宽均大于层状云降水,即对流云降水环境垂直气流、粒子尺度范围等均大于层状云降水。     

Charging state of atmospheric nanoparticles during the nucleation burst events

In this work, the charging state of atmospheric nanoparticles was estimated through simultaneous measurements of aerosol size distribution and air ions mobility distribution with the aim to elucidate the formation mechanisms of atmospheric aerosols. The measurements were performed as a part of the QUEST 2 campaign at a boreal forest station in Finland. The overlapping part of the measurement ranges of the particle size spectrometers and air ion mobility spectrometers in the mass diameter interval of 2.6–40 nm was used to assess the percentage of charged particles (charging probability). This parameter was obtained as the slope of the linear regression line on the scatterplot of the measured concentrations of total (neutral + charged) and charged particles for the same diameter interval. Charging probabilities as a function of particle diameter were calculated for different days and were compared with the steady state charging probabilities of the particles in the bipolar ion atmosphere. For the smallest particles detectable by the particle size spectrometers (2.6–5 nm), the high percentages of negatively charged particles were found during the nanometer particle concentration bursts. These values considerably exceeded the values for the steady charging state and it was concluded that negative cluster ions preferably act as condensation nuclei. This effect was found to be the highest in the case of comparatively weak nucleation bursts of nanoparticles, when the rate of the homogeneous nucleation and the concentration of freshly nucleated particles were low. The nucleation burst days were classified according to the concentration of the generated smallest detectable new particles (weak and strong bursts). Approximately the same classification was obtained based on the charge asymmetry on particles with respect to the charge sign (polarity). The probabilities of negative and positive charge on the particles with the diameter of 5–20 nm were found to be nearly equal and they approximately agree with the values corresponding to the steady state charge distribution for negative particles known from lab experiments. It means that the steady charging state was reached during the growing time of particles up to 5 nm. The natural charging state of particles with a diameter between 2.5 and 4.5 nm was estimated by means of a special DMPS setup. Results were found to be in good correlation with the data by the particle size spectrometers and air ion mobility spectrometers.     

基于飞机观测的美国落基山地区冬季混合相态层状云与夏季对流云的微物理特征

混合相态层状云与对流云的微物理特征有很大的差异性,但现阶段数值模式中并没有充分考虑两者的区别,这是导致云降水的模拟有较大不确定性的原因之一。为了加深对层状云与对流云的微物理特征差异的理解,并为模式的验证和参数化开发提供支撑,本文基于在中落基山地区进行的Ice in Clouds Experiment—Layer Clouds（ICE-L）项目和High Plain Cumulus（HiCu）项目的飞机观测资料,定量对比分析了该地区大陆性混合相态冬季较浅薄的层状云与较弱及中等强度的夏季对流云的微物理特征。其中,粒子图像和粒子谱通过2D-Cloud和2D-Precipitation探头得到,液态水含量通过热线式King探头测量得到,冰水含量基于粒子谱计算得到。主要结论有:（1）在?30°C～0°C的温度层范围内,夏季对流云内的液态水含量比冬季层状云高一个数量级,冰水含量高一到两个数量级,并且在对流云云顶附近观测到更多的过冷水。此外,夏季对流云中液态水含量在?20°C～0°C上随温度降低而升高,而冬季层状云则相反。夏季对流云中更活跃的冰晶生成和生长过程使得云内液态水质量分数小于层状云。（2）冬季层状云与夏季对流云内相态空间分布极不均匀。随着温度从0°C降低到?30°C,在冬季层状云中冰晶发生贝吉龙过程,云中的过冷水为主的区域向混合相态和冰相转化。而夏季对流云中相态结构更为复杂,体现了对流云中复杂的冰水相互作用。（3）在?30°C～0°C的温度范围内,夏季对流云的粒子谱宽度大于冬季层状云。随着温度的降低,冬季层状云与夏季对流云均存在粒子谱增宽的现象。（4）冬季层状云中,温度低于?20°C时冰晶主要为无规则状,在?20°C～?10°C观测到了辐枝状和无规则状冰晶,在?10°C以上观测到了柱状和无规则状冰晶,说明冰晶的生长主要为凝华增长和碰并增长。而夏季对流云以冻滴、霰粒子与不规则冰晶为主,说明主要为液滴冻结、淞附增长和碰并增长为主。（5）在夏季对流云较强的上升气流中存在较高的液态水含量,但垂直速度与云内冰水含量没有明显的相关性。     

基于TRMM卫星资料的江西一次大暴雨过程降水结构特征

利用热带测雨卫星(TRMM)的降水雷达(PR)和微波成像仪(TMI)连续2个轨道的探测结果,分析了2013年6月26—29日发生在江西省北部地区的中尺度降水过程不同降水阶段的降水水平结构、雨顶高度、降水廓线的变化特征。结果表明,此次降水过程由强对流云降水逐渐演变为对流性较弱的层状云降水。对流云降水阶段降水系统由成片层状降水云团中分布的多个零散强对流降水云团组成,降水分布不均匀,强对流云降水对总降水量的贡献大。层状云降水阶段,层状云中强对流单体消失,对流云降水像素及对流云降水率对总降水量的贡献减少,降水雨强谱变小,降水高度逐渐降低,云体高层降水量减少。对流云降水和层状云降水廓线存在差异,最大降水率出现的高度越高且中高层降水量越大,降水的对流性则越强。     

Lightning evolution related to radar-derived microphysics in the 21 July 1998 EULINOX supercell storm

Results of a combined analysis of data from a C-band polarimetric Doppler radar and a 3D VHF interferometric lightning mapping system, as obtained during the European Lightning Nitrogen Oxides project (EULINOX) field campaign, are presented. For 21 July 1998, the lightning data from a supercell thunderstorm weakly indicate a tendency for a bi-level vertical distribution of lightning VHF emissions around the −15°C and −30°C temperature levels. Also, in some parts of the clouds, evidence is found for the presence of a lower positive charge center near the freezing level. However, where strong vertical motions prevail, VHF emissions are not organized in horizontal layers but in oblique or vertical regions. Correlation of VHF signals with radar quantities shows that in the growing storm, peak VHF activity is low and related to reflectivity factors around 30 dBZ, while after the mature stage, the peak VHF activity is about three times larger. The highest density of VHF signals is now found near reflectivity factors of 45 dBZ. A polarimetric hydrometeor classification indicates that during storm development, most lightning activity occurs where graupel and, secondarily, snow and small dry hail are present. In the decaying phase of the supercell hailstorm, however, most lightning VHF emissions stem from the region with hail and heavy rain. Furthermore, while the VHF signal frequency per cubic kilometer in the graupel and rain regions remains nearly constant throughout the supercell life cycle, the signal frequency in the hail region rises during storm decay.     

四川盆地与周边地区的降水垂直结构和宏微观差异研究

为进一步认识地形对降水的影响,利用2014年3月—2020年12月全球降水测量卫星(GPM)星载双频雷达(DPR)探测资料研究了四川盆地(C1)及邻近山地(C2)和高原东坡(C3)降水的垂直结构及宏微观特征和差异.结果表明:(1)GPM/DPR与地面雨滴谱仪的测量结果有较好的一致性.(2)降水样本总数为C1>C3>C2...