Cloud ice fraction governs lightning rate at a global scale

Abstract

Lightning flash rate is strongly influenced by cloud microphysics, such as cloud ice properties, but this relationship is poorly constrained. Here we analyze 20 years of satellite-derived lightning flash rate data and cloud water data from the ERA-Interim reanalysis above continental and ocean regions at a global scale. We find a robust modified gamma function relationship between cloud ice fraction and lightning rate. Lightning rate increases initially with increasing cloud ice fraction in stratocumulus, liquid clouds. Maximum flash rates are reached at a critical cloud ice fraction value that is associated with high top, large optical thickness, deep convective clouds. Beyond the critical value, lightning rate decreases as the ice fraction increases to values representative of cirrus, ice clouds. We find consistent critical ice fraction values over continental and oceanic regions, respectively, with a lower value over the continent due to greater cloud thickness at similar cloud top height. We suggest that our findings may help improve the accuracy of lightning forecast and hazard prediction.

Lightning-induced chemistry on tidally-locked Earth-like exoplanets

“…The asymmetry in the vertical extent of convective cloud cover results in a crescent-like shape with rates of up to 0.16 flashes km −2 yr −1 . This LFR is generally lower than observed values over the Earth's oceans, where LFRs reach values of up to ∼0.01 flashes km −2 day −1 (or ∼3.65 flashes km −2 yr −1 ; Han et al 2021). Accounting for the impacts of coastal regions and islands on oceanic flash rates on Earth (e.g.…”

A Possible Cause for Preference of Super Bolt Lightning Over the Mediterranean Sea and the Altiplano

“…Over the MS and NEAO it is most noticeable in the lower ΔH 0-S values (Figures 5a and 5b), and over the AP (Figure 5c) it seems to be more significant over the higher ΔH 0-S values. This could be explained by Han et al (2021) who recently showed the non-linearity of the flash rate as a function of the ice fraction, where more developed clouds are expected to have more ice. When the ice fraction is rather small, the clouds are governed by liquid droplets with no efficient charge separation, thus lower flash rate and higher energy.…”

Nano-Domains of Nuclear Magnetic Moments for Gravitational Stimulation of Biological Processes

“…Such gravitational energizing of nanoparticles and macromolecules could explain the formations of clouds and charging in clouds as the nano-ice particles collide and the surrounding molecules of N2 and H2O having positive NMMs collide and they also collide with the nano-ice particles and their nanodomains of positive NMMs and the collisions disrupt gravitational accelerations of the nano-ice particles and atoms and molecules to the ground or earth. There is a current unknown mechanism for the creation of potential differences of billions of volts in cumulonimbus clouds [7]. The theory here gives a basis for such accumulations of huge electrical potential by imagined quantum entanglement over miles from such collisions within the clouds.…”

“…Other examples of this include: biomolecules and life [10], lightning by nanoice particles (H2O) [7], unconventional nuclear reactions ( 1 H and Ni and Pd) [11], interstellar dust formations of stars (H atoms and interstellar dust) [12], [13]; CVD diamond formation via C atoms in (p + ) plasma clouds [14]; isotopic fractionations [15]; isotopic violations of second law of thermodynamics via NMMs on subnanosizes [16]; internal gravitational heating earth's core and mantle [17]; motional induced error during DNA replication [8]; enzymatics [10], catalysis [18], superconductivity [19]; strange metals [ 9]; anomalous muon magnetic moment on earth [20] and more...…”