《Impact of the Vertical Velocity Field on Charging Processes and Charge Separation in a Simulated Thunderstorm》.pdfVIP

328 JOURNAL OF METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH VOL.29 Impact of the Vertical Velocity Field on Charging Processes and Charge Separation in a Simulated Thunderstorm WANG Fei1,2 ∗ ( ), ZHANG Yijun1,2 ( ), ZHENG Dong1,2 ( ), and XU Liangtao2 ( ) 1 State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081 2 Laboratory of Lightning Physics and Protection Engineering, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081 (Received July 17, 2014; in final form October 16, 2014) ABSTRACT A three-dimensional (3D) charging-discharging cloud resolution model was used to investigate the impact of the vertical velocity field on the charging processes and the formation of charge structure in a strong thunderstorm. The distribution and evolution of ice particle content and charges on ice particles were analyzed in different vertical velocity fields. The results show that the ice particles in the vertical velocity range from 1 to 5 m s−1 obtained the most charge through charging processes during the lifetime of the thunderstorm. The magnitude of the charges could reach 1014 nC. Before the beginning of lightning activity, the charges produced in updraft region 2 (updraft speed 13 m s−1) and updraft region 1 (updraft speed between 5 and 13 m s−1) were relatively significant. The magnitudes of charge reached 1013 nC, which clearly impacted upon the early lightning activity.