Dynamical and Electrical Studies of Convection

这项研究是对中纬度和热带对流的调查。这项研究的一个特别优势是它包含了云动力学、微物理学、相关电气化和闪电的综合方法来解决问题。具体目标包括：利用多参数雷达研究海洋大陆雷暴实验期间的深部热带对流，STERAO-A项目中采样的类似深部中纬度对流研究，对强雹暴的详细研究以及为什么有些暴暴会产生大量云对地的正闪电，进一步改进用于远程推断云中的降水过程的极化雷达技术，以及参与巴西热带大陆对流和马绍尔群岛海洋对流的新实地研究。这项研究将为改进闪电在物理模型和全球模型中的表现奠定基础，以评估闪电产生的氮氧化物对大气中化学过程的影响。一个潜在的实际好处是可以利用实时闪电观测来改进对强风暴行为的预测。本研究的所有目标都取决于现有技术的使用和多参数极化雷达数据应用新技术的开发。NSF表格1358（7~5）

PROJECT SUMMARY Rutledge/97-26464 This research is an investigation of both middle latitude and tropical convection. A particular strength of this research is its inclusion of cloud dynamics, microphysics, associated electrification, and lightning in an integrated approach to the problems. Specific objectives include: an investigation of deep, tropical convection studied with multiparameter radar during the Maritime Continent Thunderstorm Experiment, similar studies of deep, middle latitude convection sampled in the STERAO-A project, a detailed investigation of severe hailstorms and why some produce large numbers of positive cloud-to-ground lightning flashes, further refinement of polarimetric radar techniques for remotely-inferring precipitation processes in clouds, and participation in new field efforts to study tropical continental convection in Brazil and oceanic convection over the Marshall Islands. The research will lay foundations for improved representation of lightning in physical models and in global models to assess effects of NOx produced by lightning on chemical processes in the atmosphere. One potential practical benefit is the possible use of real-time lightning observations to improve predictions of the behavior of severe storms. All of the objectives of this research depend on use of existing techniques and development of new techniques for application of multiparameter polarimetric radar data. NSF FORM 1358(7~5)