Abstract
Although advances have been made regarding the influence of aerosols on precipitation processes, the ability of power plant aerosol emissions to alter cloud microphysics and enhance atmospheric convection is not yet fully understood. By analyzing the relationship between proximity to coal power plants and lightning flash density in Georgia from 1992–2003, we find that lightning strike frequency is not substantially enhanced near power plants in the long-term warm season climatology. If existent, any signal was likely masked by the more dominant mechanisms of the sea breeze circulation, Sandhills-Fall Line convection, and Atlanta urban environment. Despite the lack of a definitive signal in the climatology, several cases of potential lightning amplification were identified for Plant Scherer. Therefore, power plant lightning enhancement may potentially occur in isolated events, but it is difficult to link such events conclusively to power plant aerosol emissions without a more detailed analysis of the causal mechanisms.
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