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Observational Evidence of Aerosol Enhancement of Lightning Activity and Convective InvigorationLightning activity over the West Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines is usually much less frequent than over the nearby maritime continents. However, in 2005 the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) aboard the TRMM satellite observed anomalously high lightning activity in that area. In the same year the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) measured anomalously high aerosol loading. The high aerosol loading was traced to volcanic activity, and not to any factor linked to meteorology, disentangling the usual convolution between aerosols and meteorology. We show that in general lightning activity is tightly correlated with aerosol loadings at both inter-annual and biweekly time scales. We estimate that a approximately 60% increase in aerosol loading leads to more than 150% increase in lightning flashes. Aerosols increase lightning activity through modification of cloud microphysics. Cloud ice particle sizes are reduced and cloud glaciation is delayed to colder temperature when aerosol loading is increased. TRMM precipitation radar measurements indicate that anomalously high aerosol loading is associated with enhanced cloud mixed phase activity and invigorated convection over the maritime ocean. These observed associations between aerosols, cloud microphysics, morphology and lightning activity are not related to meteorological variables or ENSO events. The results have important implications for understanding the variability of lightning and resulting aerosol-chemistry interactions.
Document ID
20120003884
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Yuan, Tianle
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, United States)
Remer, Lorraine A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pickering, Kenneth E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Yu, Hongbin
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
February 16, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 38
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA..5733.2011
GSFC.ABS.01064.2012
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2011 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 5, 2011
End Date: December 9, 2011
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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