HR: 0830h
AN: AE21A-1090    [PDF]
TI: Lightning Location Relative to Storm Structure in Mesoscale Convective Systems
AU: * Carey, L D
EM: carey@ariel.met.tamu.edu
AF: Texas A&M University, Department of Atmospheric Science 1204 Eller O&M Building 3150 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
AU: McCormick, T L
EM: ma_stormy@yahoo.com
AF: North Carolina State University, MEAS Campus Box 8208, Raleigh, NC 27695
AU: Murphy, M J
EM: martin.murphy@vaisala.com
AF: Vaisala Inc, 2705 E. Medina Rd, Tucson, AZ 85706
AU: Demetriades, N W
EM: nick.demetriades@vaisala.com
AF: Vaisala Inc, 2705 E. Medina Rd, Tucson, AZ 85706
AB: Line normal composites of Dallas-Fort Worth Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR II) VHF radiation sources and WSR-88D reflectivity provide a unique perspective on lightning pathways and inferred charge structure within two leading-line, trailing-stratiform (LLTS) mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) during April and June of 2002. The overwhelming majority of VHF lightning sources occurred within the leading convective line in a vertical dipole pattern with upper and lower maxima centered at 9 - 9.5 km and 4.5 - 5 km AGL, respectively. A persistent, primary lightning pathway sloped rearward (by 40-50 km) and downward (by 4-5 km) from the upper VHF source maximum in the convective line, through the transition zone and into the stratiform region just above the radar bright band. A secondary and more transient lightning zone occurred 60-110 km rearward of the convective line in a spatially distinct layer (20-30 km long and 3 km deep) centered over the stratiform bright band from about 8.5 to 9.5 km AGL. Ongoing work includes a detailed comparison of individual sub-second LDAR II and NLDN detected stratiform-region ground flashes for the purpose of locating their origins. Preliminary results from these comparisons will be shown.
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3329 Mesoscale meteorology
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting