A numerical study of the effects of aerosol on electrification and lightning discharges during thunderstorms

作者：Tan Yong-Bo^*; Ma Xiao; Xiang Chun-Yan; Xia Yan-Ling; Zhang Xin

来源：Acta Geophysica Sinica, 2017, 60(8): 3041-3050.

DOI：10.6038/cjg20170812

• Aerosol
• Charging rate
• Charge structure
• Discharge characteristics
• Numerical simulation

Numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the effects of aerosol on microphysical, electrification and lightning frequency in thunderstorm clouds. A three-dimensional (3-D) cumulus model with electrification and lightning process is used to reveal the difference of electrification and lightning process between cleaned and polluted thunderclouds. The 3-D cumulus model coupled with an aerosol module is used to simulate a case of tropical convection in Changchun city. The results show that: (1) As the aerosol concentration increases in the polluted thunderclouds, the increase of the number of cloud droplets and the updraft causes the increase of ice crystal and graupel number, but the decrease of the scale. (2) Compared to the cleaned thunderclouds, the non-inductive charging rate decreases slightly, while the inductive electrification significantly increases and the duration of electrification becomes longer. (3) The first charge time of the polluted thunderclouds delays, but the total lightning frequency increases and duration is longer. Meanwhile, the frequency of the cloud-to-ground flash in the polluted thunderclouds increases, and the increase of the positive cloud-to-ground flash is more obvious.

• 出版日期2017-8
• 单位南京信息工程大学