Premium
Relationship between cloud‐to‐ground lightning and precipitation ice mass: A radar study over Houston
Author(s) -
Gauthier Michael L.,
Petersen Walter A.,
Carey Lawrence D.,
Christian Hugh J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl027244
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , precipitation , anomaly (physics) , meteorology , storm , radar , convective storm detection , thunderstorm , lightning detection , environmental science , convection , snow , convection cell , flash (photography) , atmospheric sciences , upper atmospheric lightning , geology , climatology , lightning strike , geography , physics , power (physics) , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , computer science , natural convection , condensed matter physics , optics , combined forced and natural convection
Using seven summer‐seasons (1997–2003) of NEXRAD data (over 46,000 volumes), coincident climatologies of cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning flash densities and radar‐derived, column integrated precipitation ice mass (IM) were developed, extending global studies of IM and lightning to more regional and cell scales around Houston, TX. Results indicate that local maximums in CG lightning were indeed accompanied by peaks in IM. Extending previous global findings to cell‐scales, we establish a link between a storm's ability to generate enhanced concentrations of mixed‐phase IM, and its ability to generate lightning. Relative to the documented CG lightning “anomaly” over Houston, these results imply that unique aspects of the Houston urban area must first generate an anomaly in convective intensity and precipitation ice, thereby generating an anomaly in lightning; causal hypotheses must be capable of explaining either increased frequency and/or intensity of convection, and then relating these to the enhancement of IM and lightning production.