Horizontal distribution of electrical and meteorological conditions across the stratiform region of a mesoscale convective system

Abstract

The maximum areal extent of the low-level echo is about 250km × 550km, and the radar bright band is intense (reflectivity 45-50 dBZ) through an area of at least 50km × 100km. The reflectivity above the bright band is horizontally stratified with decreasing intensity and echo-top height toward the rear of the system. The basic charge structure consists of four layers: a 1-3km-deep region of positive charge (density ρ≃+0.2 nC m-3) between 6 and 10km, negative charge (ρ≃-1.0-2.5 nC m-3) between 5 and 6km, positive charge (ρ≃+1.0-3.0 nC m-3) near 0°C, and negative charge (ρ≃-0.5 nC m-3) near cloud base. -from Authors