The temporal evolution of charge structure in a simulated thunderstorm

A non-hydrostatic mesoscale model Meso-NH is used to investigate the temporal evolution of thunderstorm charge structures. The thunderstorm happened on Nanjing of China. The used parameterizations of non-inductive charging was SAP98. Idealized cloud case was simulated here. The results indicate that the magnitude of the charges was increased and the height of location was lifted with the development of thunderstorm. In the early stage, the simulated thunderstorm charge structures are positive dipole. When the vertical velocity weaken, charge structures switch to four-layer and the magnitude of the charges was decreased. Positive and negative coexist in the height where the isothermal layer range from − 50 to 0 °C. In the dissipation stage of thunderstorm, the structure is also positive dipole. As major charged carriers, snow charge positive and graupel charge negative. The charge that rain carries has a great effect on charge density distribution below 0 °C isothermal layer at mature stage.