Storm Electricity Research in Oklahoma: An Overview,
Abstract
The National Severe Storms Laboratory and other agencies and institutions have collaborated on storm studies in which electrical and meteorological phenomena are compared and individual lightning characteristics are studied. We have found that lightning is usually associated with higher radar reflectivities from precipitation and often extends downwind from the main updraft into lower reflectivities. Lightning activity appears to be distributed vertically with a bimodal distribution having peaks between about 4-6 and 11-13 km. The upper peak is in lower reflectivities and strongly associated with divergent winds at the top of the storm. Lightning of significant horizontal extent (tens of kilometers) appears to be common in Great Plains storms. In-cloud progression speeds vary during a flash with maximum speeds averaging about 100 km/s. Lightning flashes that lower positive charge to ground may pose unusual threats because they can occur in very weak reflectivities, tend to propagate long distances, usually contain continuing current, have fast risetimes during their return stroke, and appear to have very high peak currents. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADP002161
Entities
People
- D. R. Macgorman
- R. T. Arnold
- S. J. Goodman
- W. D. Rust
- W. L. Taylor
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration