Numerical Studies of Thunderstorms Electricity and Lightning--A Look at the Paradigm

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Helsdon/Abstract The objectives of this research are charge separation process in the influence of lightning on the electrical structure and development of thunderclouds, primarily using the 3D storm electrification model. With respect to charging processes we plan to examine the convective hypothesis, acting alone, to see if it is capable of producing strong electrification within storms; continue to investigate noninductive charging processes based on the most recent laboratory findings; look at the hail/cloud water inductive mechanism to determine its importance in the electrification during the mature stage of storms; and examine several mechanisms, including splashing of hail and supercooled liquid water, to investigate the production of charge structures that might favor positive cloud-to-ground lightning. We also plan to incorporate electrical effects on the vertical and horizontal motion of charged hydrometeors as well as the calculation of detailed hydrometeor charge budgets. With respect to the lightning scheme, we will develop a more randomized propagation for the simulated channel, incorporating the electric field due to the channel itself. We will continue to investigate the termination criterion, with the intent of solving the problem of channel propagation to ground. Finally, we plan to run simulations with multiple discharges to determine their influence on the charge rearrangement during the active lightning phase of storms.