Open AccessPositive charge in the stratiform cloud of a mesoscale convective system
Author(s) -
Marshall Thomas C.,
Stolzenburg Maribeth,
Rust W. David,
Williams Earle R.,
Boldi Robert
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jd900625
Subject(s) - sprite (computer graphics) , mesoscale meteorology , depth sounding , atmospheric electricity , atmospheric sciences , geology , electric field , physics , meteorology , geophysics , oceanography , quantum mechanics , computer science , computer vision
A balloon sounding of electric field in the trailing stratiform cloud of a bow echo mesoscale convective system reveals only two substantial in‐cloud positive charge regions. These charge regions are located at altitudes of 5.1–5.6 km and 6.4–6.8 km, above the level of 0°C at 4.2 km. The two positive charge regions are the likely sources of six positive cloud‐to‐ground flashes with large peak currents (>32 kA) that occurred within 60 km of the balloon during its flight. The amount of charge transferred by three of these positive flashes that made Q bursts is calculated in the range of 97–196 C. Flashes of this sort are known to produce sprites and elves in the mesosphere. The positive charge regions in this stratiform cloud are substantially lower than the 10‐km altitude commonly assumed for the positive charge in many sprite modeling studies.