Evolution of a Florida Thunderstorm during the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment: The Case of 9 August 1991

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Abstract
The relationships among kinematic, microphysical, and electric field properties within a multicell Florida thunderstorm are investigated using observations from three Doppler radars (one with multiple wavelength and polarization diversity capabilities), four instrumented penetrating aircraft, a surface-based electric field mill network, and other observation facilities. The storm was convectively active for about 1 h and at least five primary cells developed within the storm during this time, one of which went through three consecutive development cycles. The updrafts in this storm were 2–4 km wide, exhibited bubble-like evolution, and had lifetimes of 10–20 min. The maximum updraft determined by the multiple Doppler analysis was about 20 m s−1. A differential reflectivity (ZDR) “column,” indicating regions containing millimeter-size raindrops, extending above the freezing level, was associated with each cell during its developing stages. This column reached altitudes exceeding 6 km (−8°C) in the... Abstract The relationships among kinematic, microphysical, and electric field properties within a multicell Florida thunderstorm are investigated using observations from three Doppler radars (one with multiple wavelength and polarization diversity capabilities), four instrumented penetrating aircraft, a surface-based electric field mill network, and other observation facilities. The storm was convectively active for about 1 h and at least five primary cells developed within the storm during this time, one of which went through three consecutive development cycles. The updrafts in this storm were 2–4 km wide, exhibited bubble-like evolution, and had lifetimes of 10–20 min. The maximum updraft determined by the multiple Doppler analysis was about 20 m s−1. A differential reflectivity (ZDR) “column,” indicating regions containing millimeter-size raindrops, extending above the freezing level, was associated with each cell during its developing stages. This column reached altitudes exceeding 6 km (−8°C) in the...

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