HR: 13:55h
AN: AE43A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: On the Use of Ice Mass Fluxes to Estimate Total Lightning in Cloud Resolving Models
AU: Barthe, C
EM: christel@ucar.edu
AF: National Center for Atmospheric Research, P. O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307, United States
AU: Deierling, W
EM: deierlin@ucar.edu
AF: National Center for Atmospheric Research, P. O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307, United States
AU: * Barth, M C
EM: barthm@ucar.edu
AF: National Center for Atmospheric Research, P. O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307, United States
AB: In the last years, radar and total lightning data have been used to show that there is a linear relationship between the total lightning flash rate and the precipitation and non-precipitation ice mass flux product. This relationship is referred to as the flux hypothesis. The flux hypothesis is based on the assumption that the non-inductive charging mechanism that involves rebounding collisions of riming graupel pellets with ice crystals in the presence of supercooled liquid water plays a dominant role in thunderstorm electrification. Three different storms have been simulated using the Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) model to show that this relationship can be used in cloud resolving models to diagnose the total lightning flash rate. Two STERAO storms (10 July and 12 July 1996) and the 13 July 2005 storm that occurs in Northern Alabama have been simulated. The model results are compared to radar and lightning data. Sensitivity tests about the microphysics scheme and the horizontal resolution of the domain have also been performed.
DE: 0320 Cloud physics and chemistry
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3324 Lightning
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting