Relations of kinematics, microphysics and electrification in an isolated mountain thunderstorm.

Abstract

Single Doppler observations are used to form a conceptual model of the essentially one-dimensional storm updraft which is expressed in simple analytical form. A one-dimensional kinematic numerical cloud model is employed with the analytic updraft profile to diagnose the evolution of temperature, water substance, radar reflectivity, space charge density and axial electric field in the main updraft region. Retrieved thermal, microphysical, and electrical variables are verified with in situ aircraft and balloon observations and measured radar reflectivity. The calculated rate of noninductive charge transfer accompanying collision and separation of ice crystals and riming graupel particles is in direct proportion to cloud and precipitation content.-from Authors