Liu et al. (2026) Dust Aerosol Effects on Charge Structure and Lightning Activity of a Continental Thunderstorm: A Modeling Study With Thompson‐Electrification Scheme

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

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-10-17
• Authors: Dongxia Liu, Chunfa Sun, Xiushu Qie, Xian Xiao, Rubin Jiang
• DOI: 10.1029/2026jd047004

Research Groups

[Information not available in the provided text.]

Short Summary

This study established a mesoscale electrification-coupled model to investigate the individual and synergistic impacts of dust aerosols (as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN)) on the microphysics, charge structures, and lightning activity of a continental thunderstorm. The research found that dust significantly modifies hydrometeor distributions, converts charge structures from classical tripole to quadrupolar, and increases the prevalence of positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) lightning.

Objective

• To investigate the individual and synergistic impacts of dust aerosols acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) on the microphysics, charge structures, and lightning activity of a rare dust-associated continental thunderstorm.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Mesoscale (continental thunderstorm)
• Temporal Scale: Specific event (a rare dust-associated continental thunderstorm)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: WRF model, Thompson microphysics scheme, Thompson-electrification scheme
• Data sources: MERRA-2 aerosol reanalysis data

Main Results

• Elevated CCN concentrations increased the mass content and number concentrations of cloud droplets.
• High IN significantly amplified ice crystal and snow aggregate concentrations.
• Combined CCN and IN effects synergistically intensified hydrometeor modifications.
• The polarity reversal threshold for non-inductive charging was lowered with increased CCN due to increased mixed-phase liquid water content.
• Charge separation efficiency through ice-graupel collisions was increased by high IN.
• Under the influence of dust aerosol, the lower positive charge region was strengthened by CCN enhancement.
• Main charge layer densities were intensified by IN increasing.
• The thunderstorm's charge structure demonstrated a classical tripole under dust-free circumstances.
• Charge structure converted to quadrupolar configurations with high dust aerosol increasing, which facilitated +CG lightning generation.
• Under high CCN concentrations, total cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning frequency decreased, but the positive CG (+CG) proportion increased.
• With high IN concentration, both CG frequency and +CG proportion increased, resulting in a maximum prevalence of +CG lightning.

Contributions

• Establishment of a mesoscale electrification-coupled model within the WRF model by integrating with the Thompson microphysics scheme.
• Comprehensive investigation of the individual and synergistic impacts of dust aerosols acting as both CCN and IN on thunderstorm microphysics, charge structures, and lightning activity.
• Demonstration of how dust aerosols can convert a classical tripole charge structure to a quadrupolar configuration, explaining the facilitation of +CG lightning.
• Quantification of the differential impacts of CCN and IN on total CG lightning frequency and +CG proportion.

Funding

[Information not available in the provided text.]

Citation

@article{Liu2026Dust,
  author = {Liu, Dongxia and Sun, Chunfa and Qie, Xiushu and Xiao, Xian and Jiang, Rubin},
  title = {Dust Aerosol Effects on Charge Structure and Lightning Activity of a Continental Thunderstorm: A Modeling Study With Thompson‐Electrification Scheme},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2026jd047004},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2026jd047004}
}