Microphysical characteristics of isolated storms before and during the production of the first cloud-to-ground flash

• Grant number: 13/04292-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: August 07, 2013
• End date: April 06, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Augusto Toledo Machado
• Grantee: Enrique Vieira Mattos
• Supervisor: Earle R. Williams
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/18217-0 - The impact of cloud microphysics on thunderstorms electrification, BP.DR

Abstract

The BEPE project intends determine the impact of clouds ice and mix phase on storms initial electrification and on producing flashes lightning. This objective is part of Brazilian Scholarship Regular Project (FAPESP process number: 2011/18217-0) begin carried out and also is associated the Tematic Project termed CHUVA. Data from Xpol Polarimetric radar, Lightning Mapper Array (LMA) and the Brazilian lightning network will be used from CHUVA-GLM-Vale campaign from November 2011 to March 2012. The first step will be select case studies to evaluated the relationship between the first intra-cloud return strokes and vertical structure of horizontal reflectivity, differential reflectivity, specific differential phase and correlation factor. Will be determined the three dimensional distribution of LMA data to the create storms electrical structure in initial phase. The second step has the objective of evaluate the physical characteristics of the first cloud-to-ground flashes of storms. Will be analyzed parameters like: polarity, peak current and multiplicity (number of return strokes of flash) in the time flashes strike the ground. This project is planned to be realized in eight months at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with the researcher Dr. Earle Williams. This time at MIT will allow understand and make a lot of discussing on how the cloud become electrified and evaluated which clouds microphysical proprieties has an important impact on producing the first cloud-to-ground flashes lightning. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

WILLIAMS, EARLE R.; MATTOS, ENRIQUE V.; MACHADO, LUIZ A. T.. Stroke multiplicity and horizontal scale of negative charge regions in thunderclouds. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 43, n. 10, p. 5460-5466, MAY 28 2016. (11/13673-8, 13/04292-6, 09/15235-8)

MATTOS, ENRIQUE V.; MACHADO, LUIZ A. T.; WILLIAMS, EARLE R.; GOODMAN, STEVEN J.; BLAKESLEE, RICHARD J.; BAILEY, JEFFREY C.. Electrification life cycle of incipient thunderstorms. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, v. 122, n. 8, p. 4670-4697, APR 27 2017. (11/13673-8, 15/14497-0, 09/15235-8, 11/18217-0, 13/04292-6)