Betz, Hans-Dieter

Höller, Hartmut

Meyer, Vera

Schmidt, Kersten

Institute of Transport Research:Publications

Geophysical Research AbstractsVol. 12, EGU2010-11649, 2010EGU General Assembly 2010© Author(s) 2010Temporal Evolution and Statistical Correlations of 3D Total LightningActivity and Conventional and Polarimetric Radar Parameters ofThunderstorms in Southern GermanyVera Meyer (1), Hartmut Höller (1), Kersten Schmidt (1), Hans-Dieter Betz (2,3)(1) Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt, Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling,GermanyDeutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt, Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling,Germany (vera.meyer@dlr.de), (2) Physics Department, University of Munich, Germany, (3) nowcast GmbH, Munich,GermanyThe temporal evolution of three-dimensionally resolved total lightning activity, microphysical structure, andground precipitation pattern of thunderstorms in southern Germany have been investigated in order to assess howtheir correlation and development can be used to estimate the state and further development of a thunderstorm andits electrical activity. Special focus has been laid on consequent discrimination of in-cloud and cloud-to-groundlightning events.A new thunderstorm tracker ec-TRAM (Tracking and Monitoring of electrically charged cells) has beendeveloped in the framework of the German BMBF "klimazwei"-project RegioExAKT (1). The prototype isdesigned to identify, track, and monitor thunderstorms by combining the information of independently trackedradar and lightning cells. Radar cells are identified and tracked based on high-resolution two-dimensional groundprecipitation scans provided by the DWD C-band radar Fürholzen, Germany. Lightning cells are identified andtracked based on spatially and temporally clustered lightning frequency maps. Lightning data are provided by theEuropean lightning detection network LINET. To interpret life-cycle patterns monitored by ec-TRAM in terms ofunderlying physical processes the observed quantities were complemented with three-dimensional polarimetricradar data which additionally allow for a hydrometeor classification. The polarimetric radar data are provided bythe C-band dual-polarization Doppler Radar POLDIRAD at the DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Correlationssuggested by the case-studies were further tested in statistical analyses over the complete thunderstorm data setcollected in south Germany during the thunderstorm season of 2008.First the temporal evolution of thunderstorm parameters like cell area, cell reflectivity pattern, total light-ning activity, IC/CG ratio, IC discharge height and others during a thunderstorm life-cycle will be discussedwith respect to the underlying storm dynamics and possible parameter correlations in an example storm. Thencorrelations between lightning activity, precipitation pattern, and cell stage introduced by the case study and foundin the statistical analyses will be presented.(1) RegioExAKT: Regional Risk of Convective Extreme Weather Events: User-oriented Concepts for Cli-matic Trend Assessment and Adaptation

Temporal Evolution and Statistical Correlations of 3D Total Lightning Activity and Conventional and Polarimetric Radar Parameters of Thunderstorms in Southern Germany

Temporal Evolution and Statistical Correlations of 3D Total Lightning Activity and Conventional and Polarimetric Radar Parameters of Thunderstorms in Southern Germany

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