☁️Atmospheric Physics Unit 8 – Atmospheric Electricity and Lightning

Basics of Atmospheric Electricity

• Atmospheric electricity refers to the electrical phenomena occurring in the Earth's atmosphere
• Includes the study of electric fields, currents, and charges in the atmosphere and their interactions with the Earth's surface
• Plays a crucial role in the formation of lightning, which is a sudden electrical discharge in the atmosphere
• Atmospheric electric field strength typically ranges from 100 to 300 V/m near the Earth's surface under fair weather conditions
• Conductivity of the atmosphere increases with altitude due to the presence of ions and free electrons
• Global atmospheric electric circuit maintains a potential difference of ~300 kV between the Earth's surface and the ionosphere
• Thunderstorms act as generators in the global electric circuit, transferring negative charge to the Earth's surface through lightning and precipitation

Charge Separation in Clouds

• Charge separation in clouds is a prerequisite for lightning formation
• Occurs primarily due to collisions between ice particles and graupel (soft hail) in the presence of supercooled water droplets
• Graupel particles tend to acquire a negative charge, while smaller ice crystals gain a positive charge during collisions
• Updrafts in the cloud carry the positively charged ice crystals to the upper regions of the cloud
• Negatively charged graupel particles remain in the lower and middle regions of the cloud
  • Gravitational settling of graupel contributes to the formation of a negative charge center in the lower part of the cloud
• Charge separation mechanisms are still an active area of research, with several theories proposed (convective charging, inductive charging, and ion capture)
• Electric field strength within the cloud can reach values of 100 kV/m or more due to charge separation

Types of Lightning

• Intracloud (IC) lightning occurs within a single thunderstorm cloud, between regions of opposite charge
  • Most common type of lightning, accounting for about 75% of all lightning events
• Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning occurs between a thunderstorm cloud and the Earth's surface
  • Negative CG lightning (−CG) is the most common type, where negative charge is transferred from the cloud to the ground
  • Positive CG lightning (+CG) is less frequent but often more intense and long-lasting than −CG lightning
• Cloud-to-cloud (CC) lightning occurs between two separate thunderstorm clouds
• Ground-to-cloud (GC) lightning, also known as upward lightning, initiates from tall structures (radio towers) and propagates towards the cloud
• Spider lightning refers to the horizontal branching of a lightning channel within a cloud or along the base of a cloud
• Ball lightning is a rare and poorly understood phenomenon, described as a luminous sphere that can persist for several seconds

Lightning Formation Process

• Lightning formation involves a complex sequence of events, starting with charge separation in the thunderstorm cloud
• As the electric field strength within the cloud increases, electrical breakdown of air occurs, initiating a lightning discharge
• Stepped leader is a negatively charged channel that propagates downward from the cloud in a series of discrete steps
  • Each step is typically 50-100 m long and lasts for a few microseconds
• When the stepped leader approaches the ground, it induces positive charges on the Earth's surface and objects
• Positive streamers, also known as connecting leaders, propagate upward from the ground or objects towards the descending stepped leader
• Attachment process occurs when one of the positive streamers connects with the stepped leader, completing the electrical pathway between the cloud and the ground
• Return stroke is a bright, high-current discharge that propagates upward from the ground to the cloud along the established channel
  • Responsible for the visible flash of lightning and can reach temperatures of up to 30,000 K
• Dart leader may propagate downward along the same channel, followed by subsequent return strokes, causing a flickering appearance of lightning
• Lightning discharge typically lasts for a few hundred milliseconds and can consist of multiple return strokes

Thunder and Sound Propagation

• Thunder is the acoustic signal generated by a lightning discharge
• Rapid heating and expansion of the air along the lightning channel create a shock wave that propagates outward as sound waves
• Sound of thunder can be heard up to a distance of about 25 km from the lightning strike, depending on atmospheric conditions
• Rumbling or prolonged sound of thunder is due to the different arrival times of sound waves from different parts of the lightning channel
  • Sound waves from the closer parts of the channel reach the observer earlier than those from the farther parts
• Acoustic refraction caused by temperature and wind gradients in the atmosphere can affect the propagation of thunder
• Lightning-to-thunder time delay can be used to estimate the distance of the lightning strike from the observer
  • Sound travels at approximately 343 m/s at sea level, so a 3-second delay indicates a distance of about 1 km

Detection and Measurement Techniques

• Lightning detection networks are used to monitor and locate lightning strikes on a regional or global scale
• Most common lightning detection method is based on the measurement of electromagnetic signals emitted by lightning discharges
  • Very Low Frequency (VLF) and Low Frequency (LF) radio waves are used for long-range detection
  • Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio waves are used for more precise, short-range detection
• Time-of-arrival (TOA) technique uses the time differences between the signals received at multiple stations to triangulate the location of the lightning strike
• Magnetic direction finding (MDF) technique uses the orientation of the magnetic field generated by the lightning discharge to determine its direction
• Satellite-based lightning detection systems, such as the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), provide global coverage and continuous monitoring of lightning activity
• Electric field mills and field change meters are used to measure the local electric field and its variations during thunderstorms
• High-speed cameras and optical sensors are used to study the fine structure and propagation of lightning channels

Environmental Impacts and Safety

• Lightning is a significant source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere, which can affect air quality and contribute to the formation of ozone and acid rain
• Wildfires can be ignited by lightning strikes, particularly in dry and vegetated areas
• Lightning strikes can cause damage to buildings, infrastructure, and electrical systems
  • Surge protection devices and proper grounding are important for mitigating the effects of lightning-induced transients
• Human safety is a primary concern during thunderstorms, as lightning strikes can cause injury or death
  • Outdoor activities should be avoided during thunderstorms, and shelter should be sought in enclosed buildings or vehicles
• 30/30 rule: If the time between seeing a lightning flash and hearing thunder is 30 seconds or less, seek shelter and remain there for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard
• Lightning protection systems, including lightning rods and Faraday cages, are used to protect structures and minimize the risk of damage and injury
• Education and awareness campaigns are important for promoting lightning safety and reducing the number of lightning-related incidents

Current Research and Future Directions

• Improving the understanding of charge separation mechanisms in thunderstorms and the role of different hydrometeors (graupel, hail, ice crystals) in the process
• Investigating the relationship between lightning activity and severe weather events, such as tornadoes and hail storms
• Studying the effects of climate change on global lightning activity and the potential implications for atmospheric chemistry and wildfire risk
• Developing more advanced lightning detection and localization techniques, including the use of interferometry and 3D mapping of lightning channels
• Exploring the potential of lightning data assimilation in numerical weather prediction models to improve the forecasting of severe thunderstorms
• Investigating the role of cosmic rays and solar activity in modulating the global atmospheric electric circuit and lightning activity
• Studying the occurrence and characteristics of transient luminous events (TLEs), such as sprites, elves, and blue jets, which are associated with lightning in the upper atmosphere
• Developing more effective lightning protection strategies and technologies for aircraft, wind turbines, and other vulnerable infrastructure