Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Stability and Charging Characteristics of the Comma Head Region of Continental Winter Cyclones

Robert M. Rauber Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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Joseph Wegman Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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David M. Plummer Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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Andrew A. Rosenow Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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Melissa Peterson Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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Greg M. McFarquhar Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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Brian F. Jewett Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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David Leon Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming

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Patrick S. Market Department of Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

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Kevin R. Knupp Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Alabama–Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama

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Jason M. Keeler Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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Steven M. Battaglia Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

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Print Publication:
01 May 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-13-0253.1
Page(s):
1559–1582
Restricted access

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Abstract

This paper presents analyses of the finescale structure of convection in the comma head of two continental winter cyclones and a 16-storm climatology analyzing the distribution of lightning within the comma head. A case study of a deep cyclone is presented illustrating how upper-tropospheric dry air associated with the dry slot can intrude over moist Gulf air, creating two zones of precipitation within the comma head: a northern zone characterized by deep stratiform clouds topped by generating cells and a southern zone marked by elevated convection. Lightning, when it occurred, originated from the elevated convection. A second case study of a cutoff low is presented to examine the relationship between lightning flashes and wintertime convection. Updrafts within convective cells in both storms approached 6–8 m s−1, and convective available potential energy in the cell environment reached approximately 50–250 J kg−1. Radar measurements obtained in convective updraft regions showed enhanced spectral width within the temperature range from −10° to −20°C, while microphysical measurements showed the simultaneous presence of graupel, ice particles, and supercooled water at the same temperatures, together supporting noninductive charging as an important charging mechanism in these storms.

A climatology of lightning flashes across the comma head of 16 winter cyclones shows that lightning flashes commonly occur on the southern side of the comma head where dry-slot air is more likely to overrun lower-level moist air. Over 90% of the cloud-to-ground flashes had negative polarity, suggesting the cells were not strongly sheared aloft. About 55% of the flashes were associated with cloud-to-ground flashes while 45% were in-cloud flashes.

Corresponding author address: Robert M. Rauber, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, 105 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL 61801. E-mail: r-rauber@illinois.edu

Abstract

This paper presents analyses of the finescale structure of convection in the comma head of two continental winter cyclones and a 16-storm climatology analyzing the distribution of lightning within the comma head. A case study of a deep cyclone is presented illustrating how upper-tropospheric dry air associated with the dry slot can intrude over moist Gulf air, creating two zones of precipitation within the comma head: a northern zone characterized by deep stratiform clouds topped by generating cells and a southern zone marked by elevated convection. Lightning, when it occurred, originated from the elevated convection. A second case study of a cutoff low is presented to examine the relationship between lightning flashes and wintertime convection. Updrafts within convective cells in both storms approached 6–8 m s−1, and convective available potential energy in the cell environment reached approximately 50–250 J kg−1. Radar measurements obtained in convective updraft regions showed enhanced spectral width within the temperature range from −10° to −20°C, while microphysical measurements showed the simultaneous presence of graupel, ice particles, and supercooled water at the same temperatures, together supporting noninductive charging as an important charging mechanism in these storms.

A climatology of lightning flashes across the comma head of 16 winter cyclones shows that lightning flashes commonly occur on the southern side of the comma head where dry-slot air is more likely to overrun lower-level moist air. Over 90% of the cloud-to-ground flashes had negative polarity, suggesting the cells were not strongly sheared aloft. About 55% of the flashes were associated with cloud-to-ground flashes while 45% were in-cloud flashes.

Corresponding author address: Robert M. Rauber, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, 105 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL 61801. E-mail: r-rauber@illinois.edu
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