Abstract
A rare dust-thunderstorm affected the Beijing area on April 15, 2021, generating frequent lightning, dirt precipitation, and gusting. Based on comprehensive data from satellite retrieval, in-situ observation, weather radar, and reanalysis data, this study investigated the electrical activity of this dust-thunderstorm. The results showed that dust aerosols from Mongolia were involved in the growth process of the thunderstorm. During the evolution of the thunderstorm, the ground electrical field always changed positively with the highest value of 9 kV, and PM2.5 and PM10 increased rapidly with the highest values of 1500 μg/m3 and 250 μg/m3. The positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) lightning accounted for a high percentage with an average ratio of >50%. The dust aerosols acting as effective ice nuclei (IN) and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) invading the thunderstorm were likely to increase the content of ice-phase particles and supercooled water, resulting in a high proportion of +CG lightning. It is deduced that the dust-thunderstorm possibly presented an inverted charge structure.
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