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Abstract:
Thunderstorms can generate severe weather conditions such as lightning, heavy precipitation, hail and strong winds and therefore have a strong socio-economic impact. However physical processes involved in thunderstorms are yet not well understood and implemented in models. Cloud electrification results from charge exchange processes which involve interactions between hydrometeors. Microphysics is closely linked to aerosols but the evolution of hydrometeors can also be influenced by the in-cloud electric field. To better understand thunderstorms, the interactions between electricity, microphysics and aerosols must be investigated.In this study we are using a 3D non hydrostatic model Meso NH and its cloud electrical scheme (Barthe et al., 2012) which is coupled to a 2 moment microphysical scheme LIMA (Vié et al., 2016) driven by a multimodal population of cloud condensation and ice nuclei. This configuration allows us to fully study the multiple interactions between electricity, microphysics and aerosols.We will present the methodology which includes the model, its set-up for an idealized simulation and different sensitivity tests. First, we will investigate the electric field feedbacks on ice crystals aggregation and terminal fall speed of hydrometeors. Secondly we will address the impact of cloud condensation and ice freezing nuclei concentration and of secondary ice production on the electrical structure of the cloud. Finally we will discuss future works which will consist of validating our results with realistic simulations and observations obtained during the EXAEDRE field campaign in Corsica.
