The relationship between precipitation and lightning in tropical island convection: A C-band polarimetric radar study

[...]the presence of large precipitation-sized ice (i.e., D $ 1 mm) is largely inferred from the temporal evolution of reflectivity at a given environmental temperature and cannot be conclusively determined with conventional radar. [...]a few anecdotal observations of warm cloud lightning have been...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly weather review 2000-08, Vol.128 (8), p.2687-2710
Main Authors: CAREY, L. D, RUTLEDGE, S. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric electricity
Clouds
Crystals
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Ice
Lightning
Meteorology
Radar
Rain
Storms
Studies
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:[...]the presence of large precipitation-sized ice (i.e., D $ 1 mm) is largely inferred from the temporal evolution of reflectivity at a given environmental temperature and cannot be conclusively determined with conventional radar. [...]a few anecdotal observations of warm cloud lightning have been reported (e.g., Foster 1950; Pietrowski 1960; Lane-Smith 1971) and, in one case, investigated in detail with cloud photography and 3-cm radar (Moore et al. 1960). In merged systems, a new updraftmay rise through cloudy air that already contains high concentrations of ice crystals. Since the NIC mechanism is linearly proportional to ice crystal concentration, charging and hence lightning would be enhanced.
ISSN:0027-0644
1520-0493
DOI:10.1175/1520-0493(2000)128<2687:trbpal>2.0.co;2