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Turbulence Characteristics of Thunderstorms Before the First Flash in Comparison to Non‐Thunderstorms
Author(s) -
Zhao Chuanhong,
Zheng Dong,
Zhang Yijun,
Liu Xiantong,
Zhang Yang,
Yao Wen,
Zhang Wenjuan
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1029/2021gl094821
Subject(s) - thunderstorm , meteorology , turbulence , nowcasting , lightning (connector) , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , geology , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
This study evaluates how clouds evolve into thunderstorms in terms of the turbulence characteristics producing the first flash. Observations of 57 (39) isolated thunderstorm (non‐thunderstorm) cells during 2016/2017 in Southern China are provided by an S‐band polarimetric radar and three independent lightning location systems. The vertical turbulence characteristics of clouds associated with thunderstorms are obviously different from non‐thunderstorms. For thunderstorms, the maximum of the eddy dissipation rate (mean value in each height layer) in the entire height is 0.19 m 2 s −3 , which occurs at the first flash stage, and the achievable height of turbulence exceeds the −30°C layer. For non‐thunderstorms, however, the maximum is 0.12 m 2 s −3 , and the achievable turbulence height hardly exceeds the −10°C layer. Additionally, the turbulence intensities of the locations where the initial discharge pulse events of the first flashes occur are weak. These turbulence characteristics are useful for lightning nowcasting.