Chowdhury et al. (2025) Aerosol‐Cloud Interactions and Their Role in Modulating Lightning Activity: Evidence From Extreme Events Over India

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-08
• Authors: Subhojit Ghoshal Chowdhury, Dilip Ganguly, Aman W. Khan, Sagnik Dey
• DOI: 10.1029/2024jd043251

Research Groups

Not explicitly mentioned in the abstract.

Short Summary

This study investigates the role of aerosol-cloud interactions in modulating lightning flash rates over India using the WRF model. It reveals a nonlinear relationship between aerosol loading (CCN concentration and size) and lightning activity, with region-specific optimal thresholds for enhancement, beyond which suppression occurs.

Objective

• To examine the role of aerosol-cloud interactions in modulating lightning flash rates over the Indian subcontinent, particularly during intense premonsoon lightning events.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale over west-central India and Northeast India.
• Temporal Scale: Event-based, focusing on two specific premonsoon lightning events (16 April 2019 and 6 May 2013).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, utilizing Morrison, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), and Fast Spectral Bin Microphysics (FSBM) schemes. The FSBM–Yonsei University–Grell‐3D configuration was identified as optimal. Various boundary layer and cumulus schemes were also employed.
• Data sources: Observations (for validation of model outputs including temperature, planetary boundary layer height, and lightning flash rate).

Main Results

• A nonlinear relationship exists between cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations and lightning activity.
• Lightning flash rate increased with aerosol loading up to an optimal CCN value, beyond which it declined. This optimal value was approximately 7,500 cm⁻³ in west-central India and 3,000 cm⁻³ in Northeast India.
• A similar threshold behavior was observed with aerosol size: coarse-mode particles enhanced lightning rates, but giant aerosols (≥30 µm) led to suppression.
• These effects were linked to changes in updraft intensity, water vapor content, and graupel formation, which are key factors influencing charge separation.
• Region-specific meteorological conditions are crucial in governing the response of lightning to aerosol perturbations.

Contributions

• Demonstrates the nonlinear nature of aerosol-cloud interactions on lightning activity, identifying specific optimal thresholds for CCN concentrations and aerosol sizes that maximize lightning.
• Highlights the importance of regional meteorological conditions in modulating the response of lightning to aerosol perturbations.
• Emphasizes the critical need to incorporate these identified nonlinearities into future predictive frameworks for lightning activity.

Funding

Not mentioned in the abstract.

Citation

@article{Chowdhury2025AerosolCloud,
  author = {Chowdhury, Subhojit Ghoshal and Ganguly, Dilip and Khan, Aman W. and Dey, Sagnik},
  title = {Aerosol‐Cloud Interactions and Their Role in Modulating Lightning Activity: Evidence From Extreme Events Over India},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1029/2024jd043251},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2024jd043251}
}