the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Thundercloud structures detected and analyzed based on coherent Doppler wind lidar
Kenan Wu
Tianwen Wei
Jinlong Yuan
Xin Huang
Gaopeng Lu
Yunpeng Zhang
Feifan Liu
Baoyou Zhu
Weidong Ding
Abstract. The studies of intracloud (IC) discharges might shed light on the microphysical structure of thunderclouds. As both the magnitude and the sign of charge separation due to graupel collides with ice crystals within the strong updrafts are influenced by the surrounding environment. Here, a compact all-fiber coherent Doppler wind lidar (CDWL) working at the 1.5 µm wavelength is applied for probing the dynamics and microphysics structure of thunderstorms. Thanks to the precise spectrum measurement, multi-component spectra signals of thunderstorms can be analyzed by the CDWL. The spectrum width, skewness, and Doppler velocity of CDWL is used to separate and identify the particle composition and polarity. In experiment, the thundercloud properties are detected by the CDWL, 10.6 cm Doppler weather radar (DWR), and Advanced Geosynchronous Radiation Imager (AGRI) onboard Fengyun-4 satellites. In particular, the spectrum width and skewness of the thundercloud below the 0 ℃ isotherm are increased, and when a cloud-ground lightning occurs, there has additional graupel with a velocity greater than 5 m/s. It indicates that this region is a melting layer, and lightning activity changes the motion characteristics of graupel, affecting the charge structure of the whole thundercloud. In general, our findings provide details on the velocity, phase, and composition of particles in the outside updraft region of the thunderstorm. The identification and analysis of graupel is particularly important. It is proved that the precise spectrum of CDWL is a promising indicator to study the charge structure of thunderstorms.
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Kenan Wu et al.
Status: closed
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RC1: 'Comment on amt-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Jun 2023
Wu et al. presented an interesting study showing observations and characterization of the thunderstorm based on measurements from coherent Doppler wind lidar (CDWL), Doppler weather radar and other instruments. Application of CDWL to study the atmosphere during thunderstorm is a relatively novel topic in remote sensing. I recommend acceptance for publication in AMT after minor revision.
- VAD scanning mode is used for the CDWL in the experiment. The observation path is titled at an elevation angle of 60 degrees rather than vertical, why?
- How extensive is attenuation of lidar signals?
- CDWL cannot penetrate thick clouds so the results here can only reveal (with high uncertainty) the lower part of the thundercloud (mostly <5 km). Please summarize the limitations of the CDWL measurements.
- During thunderstorms, the strength of vertical wind shear is correlated with the strength of thunderstorms. Some regrets fail to discuss the impact from turbulence on the velocity spectrum.
There are still some grammatical problems need to be carefully checked.
- Line 162-163: "The images of lightning and hail recorded from Hefei in Figure 2" is not a readable sentence.
- Line 195-196: "at" needs to be deleted.
- Line 199: replace “in” with “on board”.
- Line 203: replace “of” with “including”.
- Line 215-216: the sentence “the real cloud environment is different when higher clouds are detected, so measurement results of the DWR can also give a cloud environment changes over the USTC” can't be understood.
- Line 240: “exists” should be “exist”
- Line 333: “0 m s-1”.
- Line 345: “most of the IC lightning occurs height is higher” is not a readable sentence.
13 Line 358: “Combined with the lightning detected by multiple sensors, it was found that when there has additional graupel with a speed greater than 5 m/s in the thundercloud when a CG lightning within 10 km nearby.” is not a readable sentence.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-73-RC1 - AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Haiyun Xia, 17 Oct 2023
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RC2: 'Comment on amt-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Oct 2023
The paper presents a novel method to study thundercloud structures using coherent Doppler lidar wind. A particular study case at Hefei (China) is used to illustrate the potential of the method. The method is novel and valuable for publication. In general, I agree with all the comments made by the previous referee. But I add a major revision that need to be addressed and is related with the structure of the paper. Basically, it is difficult to find what is the new methodology. A flow chart (Figure 8) is presented with details of the methodology are given in section 4.2.1, and they should be moved to a methodology section before. I would recommend joining with the section ‘Principle of CDWL detetion’ and make a more detailed and consistent methodology section, highlighting the novelties versus other developments/applications
Apart of that, I would like to add a few minor comments:
- Between lines 39-60, there is a long discussion with lack of references. This is in the introduction section, and I believe that the discussion is based on previous studies that must be cited.
- I miss details of the CDWL. Is the instrument commercial or home-made? In the last case, more details about its configuration are needed.
- Conclusion section poorly reflects the novelty of the work, what are the limitations found and what is the future work.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-73-RC2 - AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Haiyun Xia, 17 Oct 2023
Status: closed
-
RC1: 'Comment on amt-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Jun 2023
Wu et al. presented an interesting study showing observations and characterization of the thunderstorm based on measurements from coherent Doppler wind lidar (CDWL), Doppler weather radar and other instruments. Application of CDWL to study the atmosphere during thunderstorm is a relatively novel topic in remote sensing. I recommend acceptance for publication in AMT after minor revision.
- VAD scanning mode is used for the CDWL in the experiment. The observation path is titled at an elevation angle of 60 degrees rather than vertical, why?
- How extensive is attenuation of lidar signals?
- CDWL cannot penetrate thick clouds so the results here can only reveal (with high uncertainty) the lower part of the thundercloud (mostly <5 km). Please summarize the limitations of the CDWL measurements.
- During thunderstorms, the strength of vertical wind shear is correlated with the strength of thunderstorms. Some regrets fail to discuss the impact from turbulence on the velocity spectrum.
There are still some grammatical problems need to be carefully checked.
- Line 162-163: "The images of lightning and hail recorded from Hefei in Figure 2" is not a readable sentence.
- Line 195-196: "at" needs to be deleted.
- Line 199: replace “in” with “on board”.
- Line 203: replace “of” with “including”.
- Line 215-216: the sentence “the real cloud environment is different when higher clouds are detected, so measurement results of the DWR can also give a cloud environment changes over the USTC” can't be understood.
- Line 240: “exists” should be “exist”
- Line 333: “0 m s-1”.
- Line 345: “most of the IC lightning occurs height is higher” is not a readable sentence.
13 Line 358: “Combined with the lightning detected by multiple sensors, it was found that when there has additional graupel with a speed greater than 5 m/s in the thundercloud when a CG lightning within 10 km nearby.” is not a readable sentence.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-73-RC1 - AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Haiyun Xia, 17 Oct 2023
-
RC2: 'Comment on amt-2023-73', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Oct 2023
The paper presents a novel method to study thundercloud structures using coherent Doppler lidar wind. A particular study case at Hefei (China) is used to illustrate the potential of the method. The method is novel and valuable for publication. In general, I agree with all the comments made by the previous referee. But I add a major revision that need to be addressed and is related with the structure of the paper. Basically, it is difficult to find what is the new methodology. A flow chart (Figure 8) is presented with details of the methodology are given in section 4.2.1, and they should be moved to a methodology section before. I would recommend joining with the section ‘Principle of CDWL detetion’ and make a more detailed and consistent methodology section, highlighting the novelties versus other developments/applications
Apart of that, I would like to add a few minor comments:
- Between lines 39-60, there is a long discussion with lack of references. This is in the introduction section, and I believe that the discussion is based on previous studies that must be cited.
- I miss details of the CDWL. Is the instrument commercial or home-made? In the last case, more details about its configuration are needed.
- Conclusion section poorly reflects the novelty of the work, what are the limitations found and what is the future work.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-73-RC2 - AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Haiyun Xia, 17 Oct 2023
Kenan Wu et al.
Data sets
A thundercloud lidar results during the experiment Kenan Wu https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/A_thundercloud_lidar_results_during_the_experiment/20326350
A thundercloud rader results during the experiment Kenan Wu https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/A_thundercloud_rader_results_during_the_experiment/20326377
Table A1. Lightning data detected by lightning location array Kenan Wu https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Table_A1-Variations_of_thunderstorm_charge_structures_detected_by_coherent_Doppler_wind_lidar/20588385
raindrop spectrometer data Kenan Wu https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/raindrop_spectrometer_data/22256617
Video supplement
raw data and Converted data video of CDWL during this experiment Kenan Wu https://figshare.com/articles/media/raw_data_video_of_CDWL_during_this_experiment/21590433
Kenan Wu et al.
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