Articles | Volume 14, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-12665-2014
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-12665-2014
Research article
 | 
02 Dec 2014
Research article |  | 02 Dec 2014

Using cloud ice flux to parametrise large-scale lightning

D. L. Finney, R. M. Doherty, O. Wild, H. Huntrieser, H. C. Pumphrey, and A. M. Blyth

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Cited articles

Ahlgrimm, M. and Köhler, M.: Evaluation of trade cumulus in the ECMWF model with observations from CALIPSO, Mon. Weather Rev., 138, 3071–3083, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010MWR3320.1, 2010.
Allen, D. J. and Pickering, K. E.: Evaluation of lightning flash rate parametrizations for use in a global chemical transport model, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 4711, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002066, 2002.
Barthe, C. and Pinty, J.-P.: Simulation of electrified storms with comparison of the charge structure and lightning efficiency, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D19204, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD008241, 2007.
Barthe, C., Deierling, W., and Barth, M. C.: Estimation of total lightning from various storm parameters: A cloud-resolving model study, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D24202, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014405, 2010.
Beirle, S., Koshak, W., Blakeslee, R., and Wagner, T.: Global patterns of lightning properties derived by OTD and LIS, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 2, 2765–2787, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-2-2765-2014, 2014.
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Short summary
Lightning is important in atmospheric chemistry models as a source of nitrogen oxides which affect the greenhouse gases ozone and methane. We present a new approach to modelling lightning using the upward movement of ice in clouds, an essential part of the charging mechanism in thunderstorms. The new approach performs well compared to those already in use and provides a novel, physically based scheme that has the potential to improve the robustness of simulated flash rates and emissions.
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