Experiments on charge transfer in graupel/crystal collisions

AVILA E. E.; CASTELLANO N.; SAUNDERS C. P. R.; BÜRGESSER R.; PEREYRA R. G.

Workshop; Thunderstorm Effects on the Atmosphere-Ionosphere System; 2012

In electric measurements of thunderstorms both on the ground and inside the thunderstorms, it is observed that the charge centers are located in regions where the temperature is less than 0°C [1, 2]. Gaskell et al. [3] carried out studies with airplanes that penetrated inside the clouds to measure charges in individual ice particles; they observed charges of about 100 pC in particles of approximately 1 mm in size. These measurements made in situ suggest that the ice phase intervenes in the process of charge separation inside the clouds.