HR: 09:48h
AN: AE41A-09    [Abstracts]
TI: Polarimetric Radar and Electric Field Observations of a Multicell Storm
AU: * Bruning, E C
EM: eric.bruning@noaa.gov
AF: School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd St. SEC Suite 1310, Norman, OK 73019 United States
AU: Rust, W D
EM: dave.rust@noaa.gov
AF: National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Cir, Norman, OK 73069 United States
AU: MacGorman, D R
EM: don.macgorman@noaa.gov
AF: National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Cir, Norman, OK 73069 United States
AU: Schuur, T
EM: terry.schuur@noaa.gov
AF: Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, 100 East Boyd Street, Room 1110, Norman, OK 73019 United States
AU: Straka, J
EM: jstraka@ou.edu
AF: School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd St. SEC Suite 1310, Norman, OK 73019 United States
AU: Krehbiel, P
EM: krehbiel@ibis.nmt.edu
AF: New Mexico Institute of Mining, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AU: Rison, W
EM: rison@ee.nmt.edu
AF: New Mexico Institute of Mining, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AB: Much prior thunderstorm electrification research uses one-dimensional analyses of vertical profiles of the thunderstorm electric field, often incorporating cloud-to-ground lighting strike data and radar reflectivity observations. New instrumentation has provided the opportunity to investigate thunderstorm electrification and lightning in greater spatial detail. We present data from the late stages of a multicellular storm occurring on 28-29 June 2004 during the Thunderstorm Electrification and Lightning Experiment (TELEX) field program in central Oklahoma. Three-dimensional (3-D) vector electric field (measured by balloon sounding), total lighting mapping, and polarimetric radar are utilized. The maximum measured electric field exceeded -150 kV m$^{-1}$. Preliminary charge analysis using the electric field vectors indicates a positive layer below 0\deg C, followed by a large negative layer just above the melting level. Another positive and negative layer follow this. Polarimetric radar signatures within the melting layer are examined in the context of the electric field observations. Mapped lightning flashes are used to clarify and support the inferred charge structure. An interactive 3-D display is used to combine these data sources. Temporal evolution of the storm is also considered.
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3314 Convective processes
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting