Mid-latitude convective boundary-layer electricity: A study by large-eddy simulation

Abstract

This paper reports the first investigations of the mid-latitude convective boundary layer (CBL) electricity above the homogeneous land surface using a large-eddy simulation (LES). Our approach uses LES together with a subgrid kinematic model for relative dispersion of scalar to calculate Lagrangian trajectories of notional particles carrying radioactive nuclei, small atmospheric ions, and charged aerosol particles. This technique opens up new possibilities for quantifying the influence of various environmental conditions on the formation of the electrical state of the undisturbed lower atmosphere. We examine the altitude distribution of principal atmospheric electrical quantities in the CBL and lower free weakly stable atmosphere without clouds depending on surface turbulent heat flux, geostrophic wind speed, mixed-layer height, ionospheric potential, and various ion production rates due to cosmic rays and radioactive gases.