Large Ice Crystal Charge Transfer Studies
Abstract
Laboratory studies of the charge transferred when ice crystals rebound off an ice surface continued. It is now widely accepted that thunderstorms are electrified by such interactions. A large cloud chamber allows us to grow ice crystals up to 800 micro and these collide with an ice target representing a falling graupel pellet. Our previous work showed that the presence of supercooled water in the cloud is of paramount importance and the precise effect this has on the charge reversal temperature (above which graupel charges positively and vice versa) is being investigated so that the results may be included in numerical models of thunderstorm electrical development. Keywords: Thunderstorms, Electrification, Charge transfer, Ice crystals, Rime ice, cold chamber.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 28, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA202036
Entities
People
- C. P. Saunders
Organizations
- University of Manchester