Field studies of the electrification of thunderstormsMany theories have been advanced to explain the development of electric fields in thunderstorms, culminating in lightning, but thorough appraisal of these has been hampered by the lack of reliable and comprehensive observational data on the electrical characteristics, microphysical properties and dynamical behavior of the storms. A major field experiment (the Thunderstorm Research International Project) has been in progress for three years, in an effort to remedy this deficiency, and this paper describes some of this work and the results emanating from it. Major tools in this investigation are: an instrumented aircraft capable of penetrating the clouds; dual-Doppler and fast scanning radars; field-change and precipitation-recording networks; and an acoustic system for reconstructing the location of points on the lightning channels. The early results indicate a strong correlation between updraughts, precipitation and high fields. Circumstantial evidence points towards the presence of ice as being crucial to rapid field growth.
Document ID
19800039098
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Christian, H. (New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM, United States)
Holmes, C. R. (New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM, United States)
Moore, C. B. (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, N. Mex., United States)
Gaskell, W. (New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM, United States)
Illingworth, A. J. (New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM, United States)
Latham, J. (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology Manchester, United Kingdom)