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© 2024. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Determining whether a cloud will evolve into a thunderstorm is beneficial for understanding thunderstorm formation and also important for ensuring the safety of society. However, a clear understanding of the microphysics of clouds in terms of the occurrence of lightning activity has not been attained. Vast field observations and laboratory experiments indicate that graupel, which is rimed ice, is a vital hydrometeor for lightning generation and is the foundation of riming electrification. In this study, polarimetric radar and lightning observations are used to compare the ice microphysics associated with graupel between 57 isolated thunderstorms and 39 isolated non-thunderstorms, and the differences in radar parameters are quantified. Our results for the occurrence of lightning activity in clouds revealed the following results: (1) the maximum difference in graupel volume at the -10 °C isotherm height between thunderstorms and non-thunderstorms reached approximately 7.6 km3; (2) the graupel particles approached spherical shapes, with a mean differential reflectivity (ZDR) value of 0.3 dB, which likely indicated that heavily rimed graupel was present; (3) the median values of horizontal reflectivity (ZH) or ZDR at positions where the source initiation and channel of the first lightning flashes were nearly 31 dBZ or 0 dB; and (4) 98.2 % of the thunderstorms were equipped with a ZDR column, and the mean depth was 2.5 km. Our study deepens our understanding of lighting physics and thunderstorm formation.

Details

Title
Technical note: On the ice microphysics of isolated thunderstorms and non-thunderstorms in southern China – a radar polarimetric perspective
Author
Zhao, Chuanhong 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Zhang, Yijun 2 ; Zheng, Dong 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Li, Haoran 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Du, Sai 4 ; Peng, Xueyan 5 ; Liu, Xiantong 4 ; Zhao, Pengguo 5 ; Zheng, Jiafeng 5 ; Shi, Juan 6 

 Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, China 
 Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocean–Land–Atmosphere Boundary Dynamics and Climate Change & Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Atmosphere–Ocean Interaction, Fudan University, Shanghai, China 
 State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences & Laboratory of Lightning Physics and Protection Engineering, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China 
 Guangzhou Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, Guangzhou, China 
 School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, China 
 Chengdu Meteorological Office, Chengdu, China 
Pages
11637-11651
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
ISSN
16807316
e-ISSN
16807324
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3117332754
Copyright
© 2024. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.