HR: 0800h
AN: AE31A-0022    [Abstracts]
TI: Preliminary Results From a Laboratory Study of Positive Streamer Discharges on Simulated Ice Hydrometeors
AU: Petersen, D
EM: danyal@dri.edu
AF: Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, United States
AU: * Bailey, M
EM: Matt.Bailey@dri.edu
AF: Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, United States
AU: Hallett, J
EM: hallett@dri.edu
AF: Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, United States
AU: Beasley, W
EM: whb@ou.edu
AF: University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology, 120 David L. Boren Blvd. Suite 5900, Norman, OK 73072, United States
AB: The initiation of lightning remains an open question, due in large part to a deficit of in-situ observational evidence. Recent theoretical descriptions of lightning initiation have focused on runaway breakdown and related secondary processes, but have not convincingly explained the details of onset of the embryonic lightning leader channel. Among possible mechanisms contributing to the initial leader formation are positive streamer discharges from ice hydrometeors, themselves once favored as the primary explanation of lightning initiation. We present preliminary results from a new laboratory study of positive streamer discharges on simulated ice hydrometeors. Emphasis is given to precisely defining the minimum electric field strength required for onset of positive streamer generation, with variables of interest being ice crystal size, habit and environmental temperature.
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3324 Lightning
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting