Lightning in the Mediterranean in Relation with Cloud Microphysical Parameters

Abstract

This chapter discusses the potential of using passive microwave satellite observations, radar, and numerical weather prediction model outputs for the investigation of the relation between lightning activity and the microphysical properties of clouds. The study concentrates in the Mediterranean area and for the winter period. Depressions of brightness temperatures at 85 GHz, measured by low orbiting satellites, are found to coincide with the areas where cloud to ground lightning occur, and thus this parameter is a useful tool which can be used as an indicator for the occurrence of lightning. The analysis of numerical weather prediction model outputs and lightning observations has been proved promising and showed that the time evolution of the profiles of solid hydrometeors relate positively with that of the lightning activity with an expected time lag, with the maximum lightning activity occurring soon after the maximization of the solid hydrometeor mixing ratio.