Exploring Aerosol’s Effect on Lightning by using Joint Observation of GOES-R and ARMS

Abstract:

Lightning frequency is considered as an important signal of global climate change, as well as the signal of representing different stages in a convection system. The aerosol assumption indicates that aerosol impacts lighting, via altering radiation, atmospheric circulation and the development of clouds or convective system. By using joint observation of GOES-R and ARMS observation, a relatively longer continuous observation can be conducted to track the whole process of an entire convection event rather than polar-orbiting satellite. In this work, normalized lightning frequency over entire convection event in different aerosol condition is analyzed to show the aerosol’s impact on different convective stage. Then, based on ARMS observation, cloud properties will be analyzed in different aerosol condition to explore the possible methods that aerosol’s impact on lightning via altering the cloud structures. The major ROI will be US Gulf Region, where has the highest frequency of lightning in the United States.