Abstract

Electrified clouds are thought to play a major role in the global electric circuit (GEC). These clouds produce total storm currents from the top of thunderstorms which help maintain the potential difference between earth's surface and the upper atmosphere. Total storm currents for different types... Show moreElectrified clouds are thought to play a major role in the global electric circuit (GEC). These clouds produce total storm currents from the top of thunderstorms which help maintain the potential difference between earth's surface and the upper atmosphere. Total storm currents for different types of electrified clouds were recently derived from overflights of the NASA ER-2 aircraft spanning several field campaigns between 1992 and 2005. In this study, total storm current measurements are compared with radar derived dynamical and microphysical properties to investigate whether these storm properties can be used to describe the current variability of different electrified clouds. When applied globally, such relationships may be used to improve modeling of the GEC via quantification and improved parameterization of the conduction current contribution from different cloud types in a model framework. Show less