Polarimetric Radar and Surface Electric Potential Gradient Study of Non-Thunderstorm Cumulus Cloud Electrification

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) and Patrick Space Force Base (PSFB) Lightning Launch Commit Criteria are focused on flight safety regarding lightning producing or potential lightning producing clouds. The Cumulus Cloud Rule is focused on non-lightning producing, electrified cumulus clouds with warmer cloud top temperatures. Our work regarding these cumulus clouds pairs the use of the PSFB weather radar and the surface field mill network to assess the surface electric potential gradient field and relate it to the radar-based parameters associated with these clouds. Currently, the Cumulus Cloud Rule emphasizes the cloud top temperature in anticipating the potential gradient field surrounding cumulus clouds, but our work has shown that this relationship is not as clear as expected. Our work has shown that some clouds take much longer to show elevated surface potential gradient values, and some warmer clouds have unexpectedly elevated surface potential gradient values.