A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity Index
In this study, an investigation of a new thunderstorm intensity index (TSII) derived from lightning data is performed, along with its relationship to rain, wind, hail and waterspouts as well as instability indices (CAPE, LI, KI, and DLS). The study area is located in the northeastern Adriatic and in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/7/908 |
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| author | Damjan Jelić Maja Telišman Prtenjak Barbara Malečić Andreina Belušić Vozila Otília Anna Megyeri Tanja Renko |
| author_facet | Damjan Jelić Maja Telišman Prtenjak Barbara Malečić Andreina Belušić Vozila Otília Anna Megyeri Tanja Renko |
| author_sort | Damjan Jelić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, an investigation of a new thunderstorm intensity index (TSII) derived from lightning data is performed, along with its relationship to rain, wind, hail and waterspouts as well as instability indices (CAPE, LI, KI, and DLS). The study area is located in the northeastern Adriatic and includes various terrain types in a relatively small area (coastal, flatlands, hills and valleys, and mountain regions). The investigated period covers 11 years (2008–2018). The mathematical algorithm standing behind the TSII is based on the well-established methodology of lightning jump, allowing us to recognize areas where intensification in thunderstorms occurred. Our results suggest that these areas (with a positive TSII) experience significantly higher rain intensities and have higher total amounts of precipitation compared with areas where thunderstorms did not generate a TSII. Moreover, 76% of thunderstorm hail cases were associated with the presence of a TSII within a 15 km distance. The maximum reported wind speed also has higher values on a day with a TSII. Out of 27 waterspout events associated with lightning, 77% were related to a TSII. Due to the good spatial (3 km × 3 km) and high temporal (2 min) resolution of lightning data, the TSII can recognize even a local and short-lived intense system that is often misread by radars and satellites due to their inferior temporal resolution. The TSII is designed to be used as a climatological and diagnostic variable that could serve in lieu of more established data sources (e.g., station measurements and observations, radar imagery, etc.) if they are unavailable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:45:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1774f3851bb241699419dee8e382560e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:45:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-1774f3851bb241699419dee8e382560e2023-11-22T03:14:35ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-07-0112790810.3390/atmos12070908A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity IndexDamjan Jelić0Maja Telišman Prtenjak1Barbara Malečić2Andreina Belušić Vozila3Otília Anna Megyeri4Tanja Renko5Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaHungarian Meteorological Service, H-1024 Budapest, HungaryCroatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaIn this study, an investigation of a new thunderstorm intensity index (TSII) derived from lightning data is performed, along with its relationship to rain, wind, hail and waterspouts as well as instability indices (CAPE, LI, KI, and DLS). The study area is located in the northeastern Adriatic and includes various terrain types in a relatively small area (coastal, flatlands, hills and valleys, and mountain regions). The investigated period covers 11 years (2008–2018). The mathematical algorithm standing behind the TSII is based on the well-established methodology of lightning jump, allowing us to recognize areas where intensification in thunderstorms occurred. Our results suggest that these areas (with a positive TSII) experience significantly higher rain intensities and have higher total amounts of precipitation compared with areas where thunderstorms did not generate a TSII. Moreover, 76% of thunderstorm hail cases were associated with the presence of a TSII within a 15 km distance. The maximum reported wind speed also has higher values on a day with a TSII. Out of 27 waterspout events associated with lightning, 77% were related to a TSII. Due to the good spatial (3 km × 3 km) and high temporal (2 min) resolution of lightning data, the TSII can recognize even a local and short-lived intense system that is often misread by radars and satellites due to their inferior temporal resolution. The TSII is designed to be used as a climatological and diagnostic variable that could serve in lieu of more established data sources (e.g., station measurements and observations, radar imagery, etc.) if they are unavailable.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/7/908northeastern Adriaticprecipitationhailwind gustwaterspoutCAPE |
| spellingShingle | Damjan Jelić Maja Telišman Prtenjak Barbara Malečić Andreina Belušić Vozila Otília Anna Megyeri Tanja Renko A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity Index Atmosphere northeastern Adriatic precipitation hail wind gust waterspout CAPE |
| title | A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity Index |
| title_full | A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity Index |
| title_fullStr | A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity Index |
| title_full_unstemmed | A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity Index |
| title_short | A New Approach for the Analysis of Deep Convective Events: Thunderstorm Intensity Index |
| title_sort | new approach for the analysis of deep convective events thunderstorm intensity index |
| topic | northeastern Adriatic precipitation hail wind gust waterspout CAPE |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/7/908 |
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