J15 Cloud Electrification Studies Refining Triggered Lightning Threats to Flight

Thursday, 16 January 2025: 1:45 PM-3:00 PM
354 (New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center)
Hosts: (Joint between the 25th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology; and the 12th Conference on the Meteorological Application of Lightning Data )
Cochairs:
Nathan L Curtis, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC and Michael J. Peterson

This session invites abstracts on lightning data analyses that investigate clouds that aren't actively producing lightning, but could become a triggered lightning hazard when an aviation, range, or aerospace vehicle passes through the cloud. Analyses that explore cloud electrification within benign looking clouds or clouds with no elevated surface electric fields are of interest, in particular stratiform clouds and thick cloud layers. Also of interest is the dispersion of electrical charges between physically connected clouds and the potential hazard that a cloud which is actively producing lightning, or contains characteristics that would suggest the cloud is electrified, has on non-electrified clouds that are miles to hundreds of miles away.  This could include cumulus clouds that are embedded in a broad cloud shield or a smoke plume from an active fire that is embedded within a marine layer.  Analyses of lightning data, electric fields, and radar in varying types of active and inactive clouds may expose key relationships about cloud charging mechanisms that can be applied to an operational setting in order to provide more availability for flight, while maintaining safety to the vehicle, payload, and public.

Papers:
1:45 PM
J15.1
Meteorological Conditions Accompanying Aircraft-induced Lightning During Takeoff and Landing
Ronald L. Holle, Holle Meteorology & Photography, Oro Valley, AZ; and D. Zhang, C. Vagasky, and L. Sperk

2:00 PM
J15.2
Study of the nature and frequency of ASOS thunderstorm (TS) and vicinity thunderstorm (VCTS) reports in METARs
Thibault Daniel Georges Vallet, École Nationale de la Météorologie - Météo-France, Toulouse, 31, France; and H. D. Reeves and J. J. Gourley

2:15 PM
J15.3
Temperature Change Climatology for Lightning Launch Commit Criteria on the Eastern Range: A Collaborative Research Project between Orange County Public Schools and the 45th Weather Squadron
David Armando Rodriguez, Lake Nona High School, Orlando, FL; and K. Dass, D. A. Salazar, J. Li, M. Okonkwo, T. Luanglatbandith, N. Padman, T. Won Dy, B. Cizek, A. L. Moses, and K. H. Chafin

2:30 PM
J15.4
Is Weather GO for Launch? A Lightning Launch Commit Criteria Climatology at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center
Krit Dass, Lake Nona High School, Orlando, FL; and N. Padman, D. A. Salazar, D. A. Rodriguez, T. Luanglatbandith, J. Li, M. Okonkwo, T. Won Dy, B. Cizek, A. L. Moses, and K. H. Chafin

- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner