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A WRF-Chem Flash Rate Parameterization Scheme and LNOx Analysis of the 29-30 May 2012 Convective Event in Oklahoma During DC3The Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field campaign in 2012 provided a plethora of aircraft and ground-based observations (e.g., trace gases, lightning and radar) to study deep convective storms, their convective transport of trace gases, and associated lightning occurrence and production of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Based on the measurements taken of the 29-30 May 2012 Oklahoma thunderstorm, an analysis against a Weather Research and Forecasting Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model simulation of the same event at 3-km horizontal resolution was performed. One of the main objectives was to include various flash rate parameterization schemes (FRPSs) in the model and identify which scheme(s) best captured the flash rates observed by the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) and Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array (LMA). The comparison indicates how well the schemes predicted the timing, location, and number of lightning flashes. The FRPSs implemented in the model were based on the simulated thunderstorms physical features, such as maximum vertical velocity, cloud top height, and updraft volume. Adjustment factors were applied to each FRPS to best capture the observed flash trend and a sensitivity study was performed to compare the range in model-simulated lightning-generated nitrogen oxides (LNOx) generated by each FRPS over the storms lifetime. Based on the best FRPS, model-simulated LNOx was compared against aircraft measured NOx. The trace gas analysis, along with the increased detail in the model specification of the vertical distribution of lightning flashes as suggested by the LMA data, provide guidance in determining the scenario of NO production per intracloud and cloud-to-ground flash that best matches the NOx mixing ratios observed by the aircraft.
Document ID
20160001321
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Cummings, Kristin A. (Maryland Univ. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pickering, Kenneth E. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Barth, M. (National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Weinheimer, A. (National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Bela, M. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Li, Y. (Maryland Univ. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Allen, D. (Maryland Univ. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Bruning, E. (Texas Tech Univ. Lubbock, TX, United States)
MacGorman, D. (National Severe Storms Lab. Norman, OK, United States)
Rutledge, S. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Fuchs, B. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Pollack, I. (National Weather Service Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Ryerson, T. (National Weather Service Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Huntrieser, H. (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany)
Date Acquired
February 1, 2016
Publication Date
June 14, 2014
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
KSC-E-DAA-TN17555
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity (ICAE 2014)
Location: Norman, OK
Country: United States
Start Date: June 14, 2014
End Date: June 19, 2014
Sponsors: National Severe Storms Lab., Oklahoma Univ.
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX12AD03A
WBS: WBS 736466.01.08.06.04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Atmospheric chemistry
Lightning
Cloud physics

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