Horizontal Distribution of Electrical and Meteorological Conditions across the Stratiform Region of a Mesoscale Convective System

Stolzenburg, Maribeth; Marshall, T. C.; Rust, W. David; Smull, Bradley F.

doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1994)122<1777:hdoeam>2.0.co;2

Cited by 139 publications

(192 citation statements)

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“…The lower positive charge layer sloped less, perhaps constrained by the presence of the melting level (4.8 km MSL on 20 June). These lightning-mapped charge layers likely did not include other thin layers that often are revealed in balloon studies [Marshall and Rust, 1993;Stolzenburg et al, 1994Stolzenburg et al, , 2001Marshall et al, 2001], and thus the full stratiform charge structure may have been more complex than shown here.…”

Section: Observations On 9 May 2007mentioning

confidence: 80%

“…[10] Both charge advection and in situ charging are important in MCS stratiform regions [Stolzenburg et al, 1994;Schuur and Rutledge, 2000b], and these two processes may account for different charge layers [Shepherd et al, 1996;Carey et al, 2005;Lang and Rutledge, 2008] as well as different classes of stratiform +CG lightning [Rutledge et al, 1990]. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the relationships between sprite production and MCS intensity and structure may be complex, and may depend on the dominant sprite-parent charge layer, and on the dominant physical process (charge advection or in situ) that led to the creation of that layer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transient luminous events above two mesoscale convective systems: Storm structure and evolution

et al. 2010

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[1] Two warm-season mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) were analyzed with respect to their production of transient luminous events (TLEs), mainly sprites. The 20 June 2007 symmetric MCS produced 282 observed TLEs over a 4 h period, during which the storm's intense convection weakened and its stratiform region strengthened. TLE production corresponded well to convective intensity. The convective elements of the MCS contained normal-polarity tripole charge structures with upper-level positive charge (<−40°C), midlevel negative charge (−20°C), and low-level positive charge near the melting level. In contrast to previous sprite studies, the stratiform charge layer involved in TLE production by parent positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) lightning resided at upper levels. This layer was physically connected to upper-level convective positive charge via a downward sloping pathway. The average altitude discharged by TLE-parent flashes during TLE activity was 8.2 km above mean sea level (MSL; −25°C). The 9 May 2007 asymmetric MCS produced 25 observed TLEs over a 2 h period, during which the storm's convection rapidly weakened before recovering later. Unlike 20 June, TLE production was approximately anticorrelated with convective intensity. The 9 May storm, which also had a normal tripole in its convection, best fit the conventional model of low-altitude positive charge playing the dominant role in sprite production; however, the average altitude discharged during the TLE phase of flashes still was higher than the melting level: 6.1 km MSL (−15°C). Based on these results, it is inferred that sprite production and sprite-parent positive charge altitude depend on MCS morphology.

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Section: Observations On 9 May 2007mentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transient luminous events above two mesoscale convective systems: Storm structure and evolution

et al. 2010

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“…Recent simulations by of an ideal supercellular storm case, using a 3-D mesoscale model with an explicit lightning flash scheme, give some hints in this direction. Furthermore, conceptual models of the electrical structure in a mesoscale convective system (MCS) by Stolzenburg et al (1994) and in a supercell by Wiens et al (2005) (both storm types related to elevated wind shear) indicate that the charged regions in the upper part of the cloud may stretch far away from the convective region with precipitation. A lateral displacement of upper level charge on the convective scale (∼10 km) because of vertical wind shear (0-6 km) was first suggested by Pierce (1955), Brook et al (1982), Ray et al (1987), and Hill (1988) (known as "tilted dipole mechanism").…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lightning activity in Brazilian thunderstorms during TROCCINOX: implications for NO<sub>x</sub> production

et al. 2008

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Abstract. During the TROCCINOX field experiment in January and February 2005, the contribution of lightninginduced nitrogen oxides (LNOx) from tropical and subtropical thunderstorms in Southern Brazil was investigated. Airborne trace gas measurements (NO, NO y , CO and O 3 ) were performed up to 12.5 km with the German research aircraft Falcon. During anvil penetrations in selected tropical and subtropical thunderstorms of 4 and 18 February, NO x mixing ratios were on average enhanced by 0.7-1.2 and 0.2-0.8 nmol mol −1 totally, respectively. The relative contributions of boundary layer NO x (BL-NOx) and LNOx to anvil-NO x were derived from the NO x -CO correlations. On average ∼80-90% of the anvil-NO x was attributed to LNOx. A Lightning Location Network (LINET) was set up to monitor the local distribution of cloud-to-ground (CG) and intracloud (IC) radiation sources (here called "strokes") and compared with lightning data from the operational Brazilian network RINDAT (Rede Integrada Nacional de Detecção de Descargas Atmosféricas). The horizontal LNOx mass flux out of the anvil was determined from the mean LNOx mixCorrespondence to: H. Huntrieser (heidi.huntrieser@dlr.de) ing ratio, the horizontal outflow velocity and the size of the vertical cross-section of the anvil, and related to the number of strokes contributing to LNOx. The values of these parameters were derived from the airborne measurements, from lightning and radar observations, and from a trajectory analysis. The amount of LNOx produced per LINET stroke depending on measured peak current was determined. The results were scaled up with the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) flash rate (44 flashes s −1 ) to obtain an estimate of the global LNOx production rate. The final results gave ∼1 and ∼2-3 kg(N) per LIS flash based on measurements in three tropical and one subtropical Brazilian thunderstorms, respectively, suggesting that tropical flashes may be less productive than subtropical ones. The equivalent mean annual global LNOx nitrogen mass production rate was estimated to be 1.6 and 3

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“…In MCSs producing elves and sprites the charge regions appear to be more sheet-like than point-like [Krehbiel, 1981;Stolzenburg et al, 1994; IIIIII/!11111 The mean return stroke current associated with the elves is roughly twice that for the sprites on the basis of the results in Figure 13. In contrast, the return stroke extension may pervade the lower layer (Figure 16b) more easily to produce long continuing current than it does in the upper sheet, owing to the larger potential drop in the longer vertical channel in the latter case.…”

Section: Distinct Differences In Elf Radiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Criteria for sprites and elves based on Schumann resonance observations

Huang¹,

Williams²,

Boldi³

et al. 1999

J. Geophys. Res.

225

279

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Horizontal Distribution of Electrical and Meteorological Conditions across the Stratiform Region of a Mesoscale Convective System

Cited by 139 publications

References 0 publications

Transient luminous events above two mesoscale convective systems: Storm structure and evolution

Transient luminous events above two mesoscale convective systems: Storm structure and evolution

Lightning activity in Brazilian thunderstorms during TROCCINOX: implications for NO<sub>x</sub> production

Criteria for sprites and elves based on Schumann resonance observations

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Horizontal Distribution of Electrical and Meteorological Conditions across the Stratiform Region of a Mesoscale Convective System

Cited by 139 publications

References 0 publications

Transient luminous events above two mesoscale convective systems: Storm structure and evolution

Transient luminous events above two mesoscale convective systems: Storm structure and evolution

Lightning activity in Brazilian thunderstorms during TROCCINOX: implications for NO&lt;sub&gt;x&lt;/sub&gt; production

Criteria for sprites and elves based on Schumann resonance observations

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Lightning activity in Brazilian thunderstorms during TROCCINOX: implications for NO<sub>x</sub> production