Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Charging processes during the dissipation stage of thunderstorms

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Electric field and Maxwell current density measurements made below thunderstorms at Pune (India) have been analyzed to study the charging processes occurring during dissipation stage of thunderstorms. These observations suggest that during the dissipation stage of thunderstorm different charging processes contribute to the cloud electrification depending on the type of thunderstorms. Our observations suggest that updraft may not be sufficient to activate charging mechanism inside cloud during the dissipation stage in small thunderstorms. However, in big thunderstorms, non-inductive charging mechanism may be active during the dissipation stage. The recovery curves of electric field and Maxwell current density measured during dissipation stage of inverted polarity thunderstorms suggests that inductive charging mechanism may also contribute to the thunderstorm electrification.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brooks IM, Saunders CPR (1994) An experimental investigation of the inductive mechanism of thunderstorm electrification. J Geophys Res 99:10627–10632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruning EC, Rust WD, MacGorman DR, Biggerstaff MI, Schuur TJ (2010) Formation of charge structures in a supercell. Mon Weather Rev 138:3740–3761

  • Dye JE, Willet JC (2007) Observed enhancement of reflectivity and the electric field in long-lived Florida anvils. Mon Weather Rev. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR3484.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dye JE, Bansemer A (2018) Electrification in mesoscale updrafts ofdeep stratiform and anvil clouds in Florida. J Geophys Res 123:1021–1049. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dye JE, Jones JJ, Winn WP, Cerni TA, Gardiner B, Lamb D, Pitter RL, Hallert J, Saunders CPR (1986) Early electrification and precipitation development in a small isolated Montana cumulonimbus. J Geophys Res 91:1231–1247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deaver LE, Krider EP (1991) Electric fields and current densities under small Florida thunderstorms. J Geophys Res 96:22273–22281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaskell W, Illingworth AJ, Latham J, Moore CB (1978) Airborne studies of electric fields and the charge and size of precipitation elements in thunderstorms. Quart J R Meteorol Soc 104:447–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helsdon JH, Farley RD (1987) A numerical modeling study of a Montana thunderstorm: model results versus observations involving nonelectrical aspects. J Geophys Res 92:5645–5659. https://doi.org/10.1029/JD092iD05p05645(ISSN:0148-0227)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Illingworth AJ (1971) The variation of the electric field after lightning and conductivity within thunderclouds. Q J Meterol Soc 97:440–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamra AK, Pawar SD (2007) Evolution of lightning in an isolated hailstorm of moderate size in the tropics. J Geophys Res 112:D20205. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD007820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krider EP, Musser JA (1982) Maxwell currents under thunderstorms. J Geophys Res 87:11171–11176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krider EP, Blakeslee RJ (1985) The electric currents produced by thunderclouds J. Electrostatics 16:369–378

  • Kuhlman KM, MacGorman DR, Biggerstaff MI, Krehbiel PR (2009) Lightning initiation in the anvils of two supercell storms. Geophys Res Lett 36. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL036650

  • Livingston JM, Krider EP (1978) Electric fields produced by Florida thunderstorms. J Geophys Res 83:385–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacGorman DR, Rust WD, Krehbiel PR, Rison W, Bruning EC, Wiens (2005) The electrical structure of two supercell storms during STEPS. Mon Weather Rev 133:2583–2607

  • Marshall TC, Stolzenburg M, Krehbiel PR, Lund NR, Maggio CR (2009) Electrical evolution during the decay stage of New Mexico thunderstorms. J Geophys Res 114:D02209. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD010637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason J (1988) The Generation of electric charges and fields in thunderstorms.

  • Moore CB, Vonnegut B (1977) The thundercloud. In: Golde RH (ed) Lightning, vol 1. Academic, San Diego, pp 51–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawar SD, Kamra AK (2002) Recovery curves of the surface electric field after lightning discharges occurring between the positive charge pocket and negative charge centre in a thundercloud. Geophys Res Lett 29:2108–2111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawar SD, Kamra AK (2004) Evolution of lightning and the possible initiation/triggering of lightning discharges by the lower positive charge centre in an isolated thundercloud in Tropics. J Geophys Res 109:D02205. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD003735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawar SD, Kamra AK (2007) The end-of-storm-oscillation in tropical air-mass thunderstorms. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JD006997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawar SD, Kamra AK (2009) The Maxwell current density characteristics below isolatedthunderstorms in tropics. J Geophys Res 114(D04208):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Proc R Soc London Ser A Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 415:303–315

  • Qie X, Kong X, Zhang G, Zhang T, Yuan T, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Wang H, Sun A (2005) The possible charge structure of thunderstorm and lightning discharges in northeastern verge of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Atmos Res 76:231–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rolph G, Stein A, Stunder B (2017) Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem: READY. Environ Mod Softw. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.06.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rust WD, MacGorman DR, Bruning EC, Weiss SA, Krehbiel PR, Thomas RJ, Rison W, Hamlin T, Harlin J (2005) Inverted-polarity electrical structures in thunderstorms in the severe thunderstorm electrification and precipitation study. Atmos Res 76:247–271

  • Standler RB, Winn WP (1979) Effects of coronae on electric field beneath thunderstorms, Q J R Meteorol. Soc 105:285–302

  • Stolzenburg M, Rust WD, Marshall TC (1998) Electrical structure in thunderstorm convective regions. 2. Isolated storms. J Geophys Res 103:14079–14096

  • Takahashi T (1978) Riming electrification as a charge generation mechanism in thunderstorms. J Atmos Sci 35:1536–1548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiens KC, Rutledge SA, Tessendorf SA (2005) The 29 June 2000 supercell observed during STEPS Part II: Lightning and charge structure. J Atmos Sci 62:4151–4177

  • Williams ER, Boccippio DJ (1993) Dependence 401 of cloud microphysics and electrification on mesoscale vertical air motion in stratiform precipitation. In: Conference on atmospheric electricity, St. Louis, MO, American Meteorology Society, pp. 825–831

  • Williams E, Mushtaka TV, Rosenfeld D, Goodman S, Boccippio D (2005) Thermodynamic conditions favorable to superlative thunderstorm updraft, mixed phase microphysics and lightning flash rate. Atmos Res 76:288–306

  • Wilson CTR (1920) Investigations on lightning discharges and on the electric field of thunderstorms. Philos Trans A 221:73–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Wormell TW (1930) Vertical electric currents below thunderstorms and showers. Proc R Soc London Ser A 127:567–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Dr A K Kamra for his interest and guidance during observations.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India

    V. Gopalakrishnan, S. D. Pawar & Manoj A. Domkawale

Authors
  1. V. Gopalakrishnan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. D. Pawar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Manoj A. Domkawale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Gopalakrishnan.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Maja Telisman Prtenjak.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gopalakrishnan, V., Pawar, S.D. & Domkawale, M.A. Charging processes during the dissipation stage of thunderstorms. Meteorol Atmos Phys 133, 467–478 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-020-00755-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-020-00755-0

Search

Navigation