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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 30, NO. 5, 1262, doi:10.1029/2002GL016521, 2003

Radar echoes from lightning and their microphysical environment

David Atlas

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA


Christopher R. Williams

University of Colorado and NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA


Abstract

A UHF Profiler radar has detected lightning echoes which occurred preferentially in a “balance layer”, the stratum of mean zero Doppler velocity with rising small ice particles and falling graupel and hail, thus providing the conditions for collisional charging and lightning. The results support prior findings of the role of the balance layer in lightning generation. The 32.8 cm Profiler radar is particularly well suited for these observations because the lightning echoes are not masked by the precipitation echoes, thus allowing simultaneous measurement of the microphysical and kinematic properties.

Published 15 March 2003.

Index Terms: 3304 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Atmospheric electricity; 3324 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Lightning; 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing.

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Citation: Atlas, D., and C. R. Williams (2003), Radar echoes from lightning and their microphysical environment, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(5), 1262, doi:10.1029/2002GL016521.