Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Towards the Understanding of Ice Crystal-graupel Collision Charging in Thunderstorm Electrification

Version 1 : Received: 6 November 2018 / Approved: 13 November 2018 / Online: 13 November 2018 (15:14:58 CET)

How to cite: He, Y.; Gu, B.; Zhang, D.; Lu, W.; Yu, C.W.; Gu, Z. Towards the Understanding of Ice Crystal-graupel Collision Charging in Thunderstorm Electrification. Preprints 2018, 2018110320. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201811.0320.v1 He, Y.; Gu, B.; Zhang, D.; Lu, W.; Yu, C.W.; Gu, Z. Towards the Understanding of Ice Crystal-graupel Collision Charging in Thunderstorm Electrification. Preprints 2018, 2018110320. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201811.0320.v1

Abstract

Thunderstorm electrification has been studied for hundreds of years. Several mechanisms have been proposed to elucidate the electrification, including convective charging, inductive precipitation charging, and ice crystal-graupel collision charging. Field observations and model studies have demonstrated the vital roles that graupel and ice crystals play in the electrification, but the mechanism of the collision charging is still unclear. The fundamental essence of relative growth rate theory used for explaining the tripole charge structure in thunderclouds also needs a further exploration. We analyze the processes of ice crystal-graupel collision charging from charge migration inside hydrometeors to charge separation between two hydrometeors. The driving effects of temperature gradient and chemical potential gradient in charge migration are clarified, as well as the applicability of the relative growth rate theory, thermoelectric effect and surface tension gradient in different humidities. Based on the understanding from these electrification mechanisms, we propose that the essence of charge separation is driven by non-thermal equilibrium, and future studies on thunderstorm electrification should focus on the dynamical non-thermal equilibrium of cloud particles.

Keywords

Thunderstorm electrification; Ice crystal-graupel collision; Relative growth rate theory; Temperature gradient; Non-thermal equilibrium; Tripole charge structure; Thunderclouds hydrometeors

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

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