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Quantifying Hail and Lightning Risk Factors Using Long‐Term Observations Around Australia
Author(s) -
Dowdy Andrew J.,
Soderholm Joshua,
Brook Jordan,
Brown Andrew,
McGowan Hamish
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2020jd033101
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , thunderstorm , meteorology , environmental science , lightning detection , severe weather , storm , preparedness , climatology , nowcasting , geography , geology , law , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , political science
There is a growing need to better understand and quantify risks associated with extreme weather, including severe thunderstorm‐related hazards such as hail and lightning. Hail occurrence based on a long‐term archive of radar observations is presented for the first time in many temperate and subtropical regions of Australia, together with lightning observations from a ground‐based network of sensors. Mean monthly and hourly occurrence frequencies are examined for hail and lightning. Environmental conditions obtained from hourly reanalysis data indicate stronger wind shear on average for hail than lightning. The environmental conditions also indicate higher freezing levels on average for lightning than hail. These environmental differences provide plausible physical reasons for observed differences between hail and lightning climatology through the year. The study results are intended to help inform future planning and preparedness for thunderstorm‐related risks, including for severe weather forecasting and climate risk applications.