Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Atmospheric Science
Committee Chair
Larry D. Carey
Committee Member
Philip Bitzer
Committee Member
Timothy Lang
Subject(s)
Lightning, Severe storms, Thunderstorms, Tornado warning systems
Abstract
Total lightning and a supercell’s mesocyclone are hypothesized to be physically linked by the updraft such that increased lightning activity may give indication of mesocyclone strengthening and overall supercell intensification. To test this conceptual model, 19 diverse supercell storms were analyzed using Doppler velocity-derived metrics of rotation and total lightning data, including use of the lightning jump as an objective measure of rapid increases in lightning. Given a supportive environment, the initial lightning jump of a storm often coincides with or precedes the onset of mesocyclonic rotation on the order of five to ten minutes. Subsequent lightning jumps generally coincide with or precede strengthening of mesocyclonic rotation on the order of a few minutes, with increasing time above six kilometers. Results vary by supercell environment and structure. Periodic anti-correlation between lightning activity and low-level rotation was observed, suggesting a potential relationship between lightning and downdraft-induced vorticity thought to influence tornadogenesis.
Recommended Citation
Stough, Sarah M., "Exploring the relationship between lightning activity and rotation in supercell thunderstorms" (2015). Theses. 105.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/105