Accession Number:

ADA280033

Title:

The Initiation of Lightning and the Growth of Electric Fields in Thunderstorms

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Nov 1991-31 Mar 1994

Corporate Author:

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER INST OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (UNITED KINGDOM) DEPT OF PHYSICS

Personal Author(s):

• Latham, John

Report Date:

1993-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

60.0

Abstract:

Further research into the glaciation of convective clouds of-the type that produce lightning has revealed that the early stages of ice formation can be detected by measurement of the supercooled droplet radius - a result which also has climatological implications. Further laboratory experiments have shown that the most effective methods of lightning initiation are likely to involve supercooled raindrops, with threshold fields around 300kVm. A new model of thundercloud electrification and lightning production has been developed, from which it is possible to deduce the sensitivity of lightning frequency to meteorological and cloud microphysical parameters. Lightning, Ice, Corona, Electric field.

Descriptors:

• *ELECTRIC FIELDS
• *ICE FORMATION
• *LIGHTNING
• *THUNDERSTORMS
• FREQUENCY
• RAINDROPS
• CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS
• CORONAS
• MATHEMATICAL PREDICTION
• SENSITIVITY
• ATMOSPHERIC MOTION

Subject Categories:

• Meteorology
• Snow, Ice and Permafrost

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE