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Charging Mechanism of Lightning at the Molecular Level
Department of Physics and Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL), Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany
State Key Laboratory of Information Photonic and Optical Communications, School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), Beijing, China
State Key Laboratory of Information Photonic and Optical Communications, School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), Beijing, China
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- 1 Department of Physics and Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL), Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
- 2 Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- 3 Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany
- 4 State Key Laboratory of Information Photonic and Optical Communications, School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), Beijing, China
- 5 State Key Laboratory of Information Photonic and Optical Communications, School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), Beijing, China
- 6 Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- 7 Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- 8 State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- 9 State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences·Volume 13 (2023)·Pages 415–430·Published 24 August 2023·DOI10.4236/acs.2023.134023
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Abstract
Cloud electrification is one of the oldest unresolved puzzles in the atmospheric sciences. Though many mechanisms for charge separation in clouds have been proposed, a quantitative understanding of their respective contribution in a given meteorological situation is lacking. Here we suggest and analyze a hitherto little discussed process. A qualitative picture at the molecular level of the charge separation mechanism of lightning in a thundercloud is proposed. It is based on two key physical/chemical natural phenomena, namely, internal charge separation of the atmospheric impurities/aerosols inside an atmospheric water cluster/droplet/ice particle and the existence of liquid water layers on rimers (graupels and hailstones) forming a layer of dipoles with H + pointing out from the air-water interface. Charge separation is achieved through strong collisions among ice particles and water droplets with the rimers in the turbulence of the thundercloud. This work would have significant contribution to cloud electrification and lightning formation.
KeywordsCloud ElectrificationCharge SeparationCollisionMolecular Level
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