High lightning activity in maritime clouds near Mexico

Kucieńska, B.; Raga, Graciela B.; Romero-Centeno, Rosario

doi:10.5194/acp-12-8055-2012

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Indeed, clouds ingesting MODIS‐observed volcanic smoke over large areas of the western Pacific were observed to produce much more lightning than unperturbed clouds [ Yuan et al, ]. Similar relations between smoke aerosols and TRMM‐LIS (Lightning Imaging Sensor onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite) observed lightning were observed also over the Eastern Pacific near Mexico [ Kucienska et al, ].…”

Section: The Role Of Aerosols In Acpcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global observations of aerosol-cloud-precipitation-climate interactions

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cloud drop condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) particles determine to a large extent cloud microstructure and, consequently, cloud albedo and the dynamic response of clouds to aerosol-induced changes to precipitation. This can modify the reflected solar radiation and the thermal radiation emitted to space. Measurements of tropospheric CCN and IN over large areas have not been possible and can be only roughly approximated from satellite-sensor-based estimates of optical properties of aerosols. Our lack of ability to measure both CCN and cloud updrafts precludes disentangling the effects of meteorology from those of aerosols and represents the largest component in our uncertainty in anthropogenic climate forcing. Ways to improve the retrieval accuracy include multiangle and multipolarimetric passive measurements of the optical signal and multispectral lidar polarimetric measurements. Indirect methods include proxies of trace gases, as retrieved by hyperspectral sensors. Perhaps the most promising emerging direction is retrieving the CCN properties by simultaneously retrieving convective cloud drop number concentrations and updraft speeds, which amounts to using clouds as natural CCN chambers. These satellite observations have to be constrained by in situ observations of aerosol-cloud-precipitation-climate (ACPC) interactions, which in turn constrain a hierarchy of model simulations of ACPC. Since the essence of a general circulation model is an accurate quantification of the energy and mass fluxes in all forms between the surface, atmosphere and outer space, a route to progress is proposed here in the form of a series of box flux closure experiments in the various climate regimes. A roadmap is provided for quantifying the ACPC interactions and thereby reducing the uncertainty in anthropogenic climate forcing.

show abstract

Section: The Role Of Aerosols In Acpcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global observations of aerosol-cloud-precipitation-climate interactions

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Aerosols have been frequently linked to CG activity [Lyons et al, 1998b;Williams and Stanfill, 2002;Williams et al, 2002;Steiger et al, 2002;Yuan et al, 2011;Kucienska et al, 2012;Fuchs et al, 2015], but an explanation pertinent to the ÀI p variation has yet to appear. In a similar context, the relationship between lightning and the presence of ice crystals has been rigorously established [Saunders et al, 2006;Sherwood et al, 2006, and references therein].…”

Section: Role Of Aerosols and Condensation Nucleimentioning

confidence: 99%

Why do oceanic negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning exhibit larger peak current values?

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines the temporal (monthly) and spatial climatology (2004–2010) of the first return stroke of the cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning flash peak current (Ip) across various land/water boundaries over the contiguous United States. Four regions are examined: the Gulf of Mexico (region 1), the Florida peninsula (region 2), Lake Michigan (region 3), and part of the U.S. Mid‐Atlantic (region 4). The crosss across the coastlines of regions 1, 2, and 4 show a gradual oceanward increase in the mean negative polarity CG peak current values (−Ip). This transition along the respective land/ocean boundaries is not sharp but gradual. In direct contrast with ocean, there is no consistent behavior in −Ip values as we move from land out across the fresh water of Lake Michigan (region 3). Meanwhile, the positive CG flash peak current (+Ip) values do not exhibit a consistent variation across any coastal boundary. For region 1, the −Ip values increase as we move toward the coast (southwards) especially during the wet season (June–October). This finding is in direct contrast with studies that documented winter as the season of maximum −Ip values. The zonal and seasonal variations of −Ip values across region 4 are not quite as pronounced, but the oceanic −Ip values are still larger than over the adjoining landmass. We explore in turn which up to date hypotheses pertinent to the oceanic −Ip enhancement are supported or refuted by our findings. It is concluded that the oceanic −Ip enhancement is not an artifact related to CG detection or Ip retrieval methods, nor is it likely related to the cloud top heights or CG activity. The study cannot refute the role of electrical conductivity and its contribution to CG leader attachment processes. However, given the observed “blurred transition” of the Ip values across the coastlines this paper suggests that likely the main physical mechanism is acting on the thundercloud potential. The recently suggested role of sodium chloride (NaCl) but also the role of ice crystal size (implicated herein), as possible modulators of the thundercloud potential, exhibit distinct pros and cons. Their candidacy is supported by their strong physical links to the electrostatic charging and thundercloud electric potential buildup but also by the exhibited blurred −Ip transition across the coastlines. In contrast, the suggested mechanisms cannot individually explain the observed −Ip enhancement in terms of season, NaCl concentrations, and absence of similar behavior in the respective +Ip values.

show abstract

“…Other convective systems, such as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and cold fronts from mid and high-latitudes, were also considered in the analysis of the location of prominent electrical discharge densities. In this research, WWLLN data were also indirectly evaluated using results from other sources that reported lightning in the scientific literature, such as the activity associated with the "Relámpago del Catatumbo" [12,29], and the cloud to ground lightning distribution over Mexico [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

WWLLN Hot and Cold-Spots of Lightning Activity and Their Relation to Climate in an Extended Central America Region 2012–2020

Amador

Arce-Fernández

2022

Atmosphere

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lightning activity has been recognized to have, historically, social and environmental consequences around the globe. This work analyzes the space-time distribution of lightning-densities (D) in an extended Central America region (ECA). World Wide Lightning Location Network data was analyzed to link D with dominant climate patterns over the ECA for 2012–2020. D associated with cold surges entering the tropics dominate during boreal winter. The highest D (hot-spots) was found to agree well with previously known sites, such as the “Catatumbo” in Venezuela; however, D was lower here due to different detection efficiencies. Previously reported hot-spots showed strong continental signals in CA; however, in this work, they were over the oceans near to coastlines, especially in the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP). Most cold-spots, implying a minimum of vulnerability to human impacts and to some industries, were situated in the Caribbean Sea side of Central America. The Mid-Summer-Drought and the Caribbean-Low-Level-Jet (CLLJ) markedly reduced the D during July-August. The CLLJ in the central CS and across the Yucatan and the southern Gulf of Mexico acts as a lid inhibiting convection due to its strong vertical shear during the boreal summer. The CLLJ vertical wind-shear and its extension to the Gulf of Papagayo also diminished convection and considerably decreased the D over a region extending westward into the ETP for at least 400–450 km. A simple physical mechanism to account for the coupling between the CLLJ, the MSD, and lightning activity is proposed for the latter region.

show abstract

High lightning activity in maritime clouds near Mexico

Cited by 15 publications

References 49 publications

Global observations of aerosol-cloud-precipitation-climate interactions

Global observations of aerosol-cloud-precipitation-climate interactions

Why do oceanic negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning exhibit larger peak current values?

WWLLN Hot and Cold-Spots of Lightning Activity and Their Relation to Climate in an Extended Central America Region 2012–2020

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About