HR: 0830h
AN: AE21A-1092    [PDF]
TI: One Dimensional Simulations of Lightning Activity in New Mexico Thunderstorms
AU: * Coleman, L S
EM: leonidas@phy.olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University, MS 38677 United States
AU: Stolzenburg, M
EM: mstolzen@phy.olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University, MS 38677 United States
AU: Marshall, T C
EM: marshall@olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University, MS 38677 United States
AU: Krehbiel, P R
EM: krehbiel@ibis.nmt.edu
AF: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Physics Department, 333 Workman Center 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AB: One dimensional models of cloud charge structures based on electric field soundings, are used to simulate lightning activity by placing layers of opposing charge into the clouds so that the energy contained in the electric field is minimized. For intracloud flashes (IC's) equal amounts of negative charge are placed above positive charge, and for cloud-to-ground flashes (CG's) positive charge is placed above negative charge with a net positive charge added to the cloud. The idea that flashes should minimize the energy in a cloud is inspired by several other situations in nature for which the most likely physical solution is that which minimizes the energy. For example, Thomson's Theorem states that the solution for the electrostatic charge distribution on a conductor is that which minimizes the free field energy. Similarly, systems which obey a canonical distribution in statistical mechanics are most likely to be found in states which have the least energy. Preliminary results with the model show features similar to those seen in LMA data acquired simultaneously with the E soundings. For example, the simulated "storms" have three layers of lightning activity: two layers of deposited negative charge with a layer of deposited positive charge in between. The upper layer of deposited negative charge is associated with IC activity, while the lower layer is associated with CG activity. A close inspection of the layer of deposited positive charge indicates that the portion deposited by IC's is placed above the portion deposited by CG's, similar to the behavior revealed in real storms by the LMA data. In addition, preliminary results show IC flashes with charge moments on the order of 100 C km, and field changes at ground caused by CG flashes on the order of 15 kV/m.
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3360 Remote sensing
DE: 3394 Instruments and techniques
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting