Field identification of a unique globally dominant mechanism of thunderstorm electrification

Abstract

Abstract Two wholly distinct studies involving TRMM‐satellite global data were conducted. One involved the relationship between lightning frequency f and brightness temperature, the other between f and ice‐water‐path. Both studies demonstrate that globally valid relationships exist between f and thundercloud ice‐precipitation content, from which it follows that graupel pellets play a crucial role in thundercloud charging. Ground‐based field studies provide further support for this conclusion and show that f is also strongly dependent upon the ice crystal content. All these findings are consistent with the non‐inductive charging mechanism, but not with any other proposed mechanism of thunderstorm electrification. We conclude that the non‐inductive mechanism dominates electric field growth and lightning production in all seasons–for both oceanic and terrestrial thunderstorms–on a global scale. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society