Radar Detection of Lightning and Electric Fields
Abstract
In recent years, there has been increased interest in the use of radars to identify electrified clouds and to quantify electrification processes. This report surveys the use of radars to observe lightning and to observe the effects of electrical fields on the orientations of hydrometeors. Observations of lightning channels, conducted with increasing sophistication since the 1940's, have revealed the wavelength dependence of the reflectivity of lightning, the distribution of lightning echoes in storms, and the differential reflectivity of lightning. Observations of electrified clouds with polarization diversity radars during the 1970's and early 1980's revealed changes of orientations of ice crystals due to varying electric fields. These techniques can now be used in coordination with measurements of electrical fields and radio frequency emissions from lightning discharges to gain valuable new knowledge of the structure and evolution of electric fields in clouds. This report suggests several approaches to the continued investigations of electrical fields in clouds by radars. Atmospheric electricity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 16, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA217894
Entities
People
- James I. Metcalf
Organizations
- Air Force Systems Command