Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Formation of Charge Structures in a Supercell

Eric C. Bruning Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, and NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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W. David Rust NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Donald R. MacGorman NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Michael I. Biggerstaff School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Terry J. Schuur Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, and NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Print Publication:
01 Oct 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010MWR3160.1
Page(s):
3740–3761
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Abstract

Lightning mapping, electric field, and radar data from the 26 May 2004 supercell in central Oklahoma are used to examine the storm’s charge structure. An initial arc-shaped maximum in lightning activity on the right flank of the storm’s bounded weak echo region was composed of an elevated normal polarity tripole in the region of precipitation lofted above the storm’s weak echo region. Later in the storm, two charge structures were associated with precipitation that reached the ground. To the left of the weak echo region, six charge regions were inferred, with positive charge carried on hail at the bottom of the stack. Farther forward in the storm’s precipitation region, four charge regions were inferred, with negative charge at the bottom of the stack. There were different charge structures in adjacent regions of the storm at the same time, and regions of opposite polarity charge were horizontally adjacent at the same altitude. Flashes occasionally lowered positive charge to ground from the forward charge region. A conceptual model is presented that ties charge structure in different regions of the storm to storm structure inferred from radar reflectivity.

* Current affiliation: University of Maryland, College Park, ESSIC/CICS, College Park, Maryland

Corresponding author address: Eric Bruning, University of Maryland, College Park, ESSIC/CICS, 5825 University Research Court Suite 4001, College Park, MD 20740-2465. Email: eric.bruning@noaa.gov

Abstract

Lightning mapping, electric field, and radar data from the 26 May 2004 supercell in central Oklahoma are used to examine the storm’s charge structure. An initial arc-shaped maximum in lightning activity on the right flank of the storm’s bounded weak echo region was composed of an elevated normal polarity tripole in the region of precipitation lofted above the storm’s weak echo region. Later in the storm, two charge structures were associated with precipitation that reached the ground. To the left of the weak echo region, six charge regions were inferred, with positive charge carried on hail at the bottom of the stack. Farther forward in the storm’s precipitation region, four charge regions were inferred, with negative charge at the bottom of the stack. There were different charge structures in adjacent regions of the storm at the same time, and regions of opposite polarity charge were horizontally adjacent at the same altitude. Flashes occasionally lowered positive charge to ground from the forward charge region. A conceptual model is presented that ties charge structure in different regions of the storm to storm structure inferred from radar reflectivity.

* Current affiliation: University of Maryland, College Park, ESSIC/CICS, College Park, Maryland

Corresponding author address: Eric Bruning, University of Maryland, College Park, ESSIC/CICS, 5825 University Research Court Suite 4001, College Park, MD 20740-2465. Email: eric.bruning@noaa.gov

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