Electrification of winter clouds is not well characterized unless lightning is observed. MSFC has combined with GSFC and the University of North Dakota to understand how winter clouds electrify. Using a unique system of aircraft-based electric field mills from MSFC’s Lightning Instrument Package, the electric field of winter clouds was measured and compared against radar, microwave (MSFC’s AMPR instrument), and in cloud observations of liquid water, ice, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the conditions in which electrification are observed. Results indicate that when ice orientation is observed in radar data, strong electric fields are also within the same volume of the cloud. The impact of this study is that radar data can be used to determine locations where lightning may be possible prior to the infrequent lightning observed in winter systems, allowing for the threat to be communicated to stakeholders.
The ESD Portal Summary is found here: https://esdresearch.nasa.gov/result/remote-sensing-electric-fields-observed-within-winter-precipitation-during-2020-investigation
The Journal Publication is located here: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2021JD034704
