A numerical study of effects of aerosol particles on the electric activities of a thunderstorm with a 1.5D aerosol-cloud bin model

Yang, Yi; Sun, Jinsheng; Li, F.; Zhang, T.; Hu, Wei; Zhang, J.

doi:10.1016/j.jaerosci.2022.105975

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 69 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…With an increase in CCN in the P_N case, there was a noticeable rise in both the concentration and the mass mixing ratio of droplets. This finding is consistent with our previous understanding [48]: the CCN further increases, the concentration and mass of droplets increase because more aerosol particles can act as CCN and nucleate into droplets under polluted conditions. Figure 7 shows the number density distribution functions of the droplets at the center of the cloud at an altitude of 1800 m (just above the cloud base) at 11 min in C_N and P_N.…”

Section: Microphysical Processessupporting

confidence: 93%

“…2024, 16, 2117 10 of 18 and the mass mixing ratio of droplets. This finding is consistent with our previous understanding [48]: as the CCN further increases, the concentration and mass of droplets increase because more aerosol particles can act as CCN and nucleate into droplets under polluted conditions. Figure 7 shows the number density distribution functions of the droplets at the center of the cloud at an altitude of 1800 m (just above the cloud base) at 11 min in C_N and P_N.…”

Section: Microphysical Processessupporting

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Preliminary Application of Spectral Microphysics in Numerical Study of the Effects of Aerosol Particles on Thunderstorm Development

Yang,

Sun,

Shi

et al. 2024

Remote Sensing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Progress in numerical models and improved computational capabilities have significantly advanced our comprehension of how aerosol particles impact thunderstorm clouds. Yet, much of this research has focused on employing bulk microphysics models to explain the impacts of aerosol particles acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) on electrical activities in thunderstorm clouds. The bulk thunderstorm models use mean sizes of particles and terminal-fall velocities. This causes calculation deviation in the electrification simulation, which in turn leads to deviations in the simulation of lightning processes. Developing this further, we established a three-dimensional high-resolution cloud–aerosol bin thunderstorm model with electrification and lightning to provide more accurate microphysics and dynamic fields for studying electrical activities. For evaluating the impacts of aerosol particles, specifically CCN, on the properties of continental thunderclouds, aerosols from both clean and polluted continental environments were selected. Cloud simulations indicate that droplets develop a narrower spectrum in polluted continental conditions, and weakened ice crystal growth increases the number of small ice crystals compared to clean conditions. Smaller droplets and ice crystals result in less effective riming and decreased graupel concentration and mass. Consequently, a significant decrease in large ice particles leads to a weakened process of charge separation under conditions of pollution. As a direct result, there is about a 43% reduction in lightning frequency and a delay of approximately 5 min in the lightning process under polluted conditions.

show abstract

Section: Microphysical Processessupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Microphysical Processessupporting

confidence: 93%

The Preliminary Application of Spectral Microphysics in Numerical Study of the Effects of Aerosol Particles on Thunderstorm Development

Yang,

Sun,

Shi

et al. 2024

Remote Sensing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This process lowers the efficiency of droplet collisions, which delays and inhibits the formation of raindrops. Studies in [34][35][36][37][38][39] have identified a positive correlation between lightning activity and aerosol concentrations. Additionally, those works demonstrate that high aerosol concentrations can significantly enhance the electrification process, according to the bulk microphysical model, or even weaken the electrification on further increase.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 3D Numerical Model to Estimate Lightning Types for PyroCb Thundercloud

Barman,

Shah,

Islam

et al. 2024

Applied Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) thunderclouds, produced from extreme bushfires, can initiate frequent cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning strikes containing extended continuing currents. This, in turn, can ignite new spot fires and inflict massive harm on the environment and infrastructures. This study presents a 3D numerical thundercloud model for estimating the lightning of different types and its striking zone for the conceptual tripole thundercloud structure which is theorized to produce the lightning phenomenon in pyroCb storms. More emphasis is given to the lower positive charge layer, and the impacts of strong wind shear are also explored to thoroughly examine various electrical parameters including the longitudinal electric field, electric potential, and surface charge density. The simulation outcomes on pyroCb thunderclouds with a tripole structure confirm the presence of negative longitudinal electric field initiation at the cloud’s lower region. This initiation is accompanied by enhancing the lower positive charge region, resulting in an overall positive electric potential increase. Consequently, negative surface charge density appears underneath the pyroCb thundercloud which has the potential to induce positive (+CG) lightning flashes. With wind shear extension of upper charge layers in pyroCb, the lightning initiation potential becomes negative to reduce the absolute field value and would generate negative (−CG) lightning flashes. A subsequent parametric study is carried out considering a positive correlation between aerosol concentration and charge density to investigate the sensitivity of pyroCb electrification under the influence of high aerosol conditions. The suggested model would establish the basis for identifying the potential area impacted by lightning and could also be expanded to analyze the dangerous conditions that may arise in wind energy farms or power substations in times of severe pyroCb events.

show abstract

“…Several studies have a positive correlation between lightning activity and aerosol loading [51], [52], [53]. Based on the investigation made in the works [54], [55], [56], high CCN concentration could lead to a strong electrification process under the bulk microphysical model. However, further increases in concentration weaken the electrification process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Model of Cloud-to-Ground Lightning for PyroCb Thunderstorms

Barman,

Shah,

Islam

et al. 2023

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Appl. Earth Observations Remote Sensing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper demonstrates a 2-D numerical model to represent two conceptual pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) thundercloud structures: i) tilted dipole and ii) tripole structure with enhanced lower positive charge layer, which are hypothesized to explain the occurrence of lightning flashes in pyroCb storms created from severe wildfire events. The presented model considers more realistic thundercloud charge structures to investigate the electrical states and determine surface charge density for identifying potential lightning strike areas on Earth. Simulation results on dipole structure-based pyroCb thunderclouds confirm that the wind-shear extension of its upper positive (UP) charge layer by 2-8 km reduces the electric field and indicates the initiation of negative surface charge density around the earth periphery underneath the anvil cloud. These corresponding lateral extensions have confined the probable striking zone of -CG and +CG lightning within 0-23.5 km and 23.5-30 km in the simulation domain. In contrast, py-roCb thundercloud possessing the tripole structure with enhanced lower positive charge develops a negative electric field at the cloud's bottom part to block the progression of downward negative leader and cause the surface charge density beneath the thundercloud to become negative, which would lead to the formation of +CG flashes. Later, a parametric study is conducted assuming a positive linear correlation between the charge density and aerosol concentration to examine the effect of high aerosol concentration on surface charge density in both pyroCb thunderclouds. The proposed model can be expanded into 3-D to simulate lightning leader movement, aiding wildfire risk management.

show abstract

A numerical study of effects of aerosol particles on the electric activities of a thunderstorm with a 1.5D aerosol-cloud bin model

Cited by 5 publications

References 69 publications

The Preliminary Application of Spectral Microphysics in Numerical Study of the Effects of Aerosol Particles on Thunderstorm Development

The Preliminary Application of Spectral Microphysics in Numerical Study of the Effects of Aerosol Particles on Thunderstorm Development

A 3D Numerical Model to Estimate Lightning Types for PyroCb Thundercloud

Numerical Model of Cloud-to-Ground Lightning for PyroCb Thunderstorms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About