Role of Electrical Effects in Intensifying Rainfall Rates in the Tropics

Dipjyoti Mudiar, Anupam Hazra, S. D. Pawar, Rama Krishna Karumuri, Mahen Konwar, Subrata Mukherjee, Manoj K. Srivastava, B. N. Goswami, Earle Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the backdrop of a significant improvement in weather prediction with Numerical Weather Prediction models, quantitative prediction of the intensity of heavy rainfall events and associated disasters has remained a challenge. Encouraged by the recent emergence of compelling observational evidence for a significant electrical influence on cloud/rain microphysical processes (Mudiar, Pawar, Gopalakrishnana et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021gl093577), here we propose a hypothesis that the modification of the raindrop size distribution (RDSD) towards larger drop sizes facilitated by cloud electric fields could be one factor responsible for realistic rainfall intensity in weather/climate models. The robustness of the proposed hypothesis is confirmed through a series of simulations of strongly electrified rain events with the Weather Research and Forecasting model incorporating the electrically modified RDSD parameters in the model physics. Our results indicate a possible roadmap for improving hazard prediction associated with extreme rainfall events in weather prediction models.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume49
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 8 2022

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2022-01-26
Acknowledgements: The IITM is funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. The authors thank Director, IITM for his continuous support and encouragement. B. N. Goswami thanks the Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India for the SERB Distinguished Fellowship. We sincerely acknowledge the efforts of scientific and technical staffs of IITM, Pune, working in the HACPL, Mahabaleshwar to collect the Impact disdrometer data. We are grateful to the Editor, Associate Editor, and three anonymous reviewers for their critical and constructive comments throughout the review process which greatly improved the manuscript.

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