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Total Lightning Activity Associated with Tornadic StormsPrior studies have examined the association of lightning activity with the occurrence of severe weather. Severe storms often have high flash rates (in excess of one flash per second) and are dominated by intracloud lightning activity. Most recently, we have identified a rapid change (referred to as a "jump") in total flash rate which precedes the occurrence of severe weather by ten or more minutes. This relationship is associated with updraft intensification. In this paper we examine whether there exist unique characteristics of the total lightning and the lightning jumps associated with tornadoes in Florida, and explain how they might relate to the interaction of mesocyclonic shear, the rear flank downdraft and outflow boundaries that can lead to tornadogenesis. In several cases, evidence for diminishment of midlevel rotation and the descent of angular momentum from aloft is present prior to the appearance of the surface tornado. The relatively long lead time between the lighting jump and the occurrence of the tornado is attributed to the time lag between updraft invigoration and the boundary layer spin up of vorticity.
Document ID
19990078508
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Goodman, Steven J.
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Buechler, Dennis
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Hodanish, Stephen
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Sharpe, David
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Williams, Earle R.
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Boldi, Bob
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Matlin, Anne
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Weber, Mark
(Global Hydrology and Climate Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: Atmospheric Electricity
Location: Guntersville, AL
Country: United States
Start Date: June 7, 1999
End Date: June 11, 1999
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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