Microphysical growth state of ice particles and large‐scale electrical structure of clouds

Abstract

Cloud temperature, liquid water content, and vertical air velocity are all considered in evaluating the microphysical growth state of ice phase precipitation particles in the atmosphere. The large‐scale observations taken together with in situ measurements indicate that the most prevalent growth condition for large ice particles in active convection is sublimation during riming, whereas the most prevalent growth condition in stratiform precipitation is vapor deposition. The large‐scale electrical observations lend further support to the idea that particles warmed by riming into sublimation charge negatively and particles in vapor deposition charge positively in collisions with small ice particles.