An examination of thunderstorm-charging mechanisms using a two-dimensional storm electrification model

The early, prelightning, electrification of a storm resulting from noninductive (NI) charging involving graupel, cloud ice/snow, and supercooled cloud water in a riming environment is studied using a comparative approach in a two‐dimensional storm electrification model. The primary schemes examined are NI charge transfers based on the laboratory work of Takahashi [1978] and Saunders et al. [1991]. The NI mechanism, based on Takahashi's work, develops a positive dipole (positive charge above negative) and electric fields approaching 185 kV m−1 as the cloud enters the dissipating stage. Charge transfers, based on the work of Saunders and colleagues, had to be reduced in magnitude to produce electrification that is consistent with the observations. In addition, the Saunders scheme produces an initially inverted dipole (negative charge above positive) which resolves to a positive dipole in the latter part of the simulation and produces electric fields approaching 250 kV m−1. Sensitivity tests show that the NI scheme, based on Takahashi's work, is sensitive to the number concentration of ice crystals, whereas the Saunders‐based scheme is much less sensitive to ice crystal numbers. The Saunders parameterization has strong positive charging of graupel at low effective liquid water content and low temperature. This positive charging can result in an unusual cloud‐top charge structure when used at full value but is benign when the charging is reduced in magnitude. The charge structure resulting from the Saunders scheme is quite sensitive to the calculation of the effective water content, which determines the level of charge reversal. Both of the NI schemes are capable of producing electrification that approaches thunderstorm levels.