Investigation of Cloud Microphysical, Kinematic and Electrical Characteristics

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The general objective of this project is to enhance understanding of the development of precipitation and electrification, as well as the association between the two, in warm-based clouds where "warm rain" processes, including coalescence-freezing, are active. The work involves study of the cloud microphysical, kinematic, and electrical characteristics using data collected with the armored T-28 meteorological research aircraft, in conjunction with data gathered by other aircraft, radars, and additional observing systems. The T-28 will probe the interiors of mature convective storms to obtain in situ information on winds, sub-cloud-scale dynamical structures, temperatures, microphysical properties, and the electric field structure. Electric field measurements made by the T-28 will be combined with surface field and lightning location measurements, as well as measurements from other aircraft and vertical electrical soundings, to help deduce the charge distribution in the storms, its evolution with time, and how it may be influenced by microphysical and dynamical charge separation mechanisms.