First Advisor

Paul Loikith

Term of Graduation

Fall 2019

Date of Publication

12-11-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography

Department

Geography

Language

English

Subjects

Lightning -- West (U.S.) -- Forecasting, Lightning -- Forecasting -- Mathematical models, Numerical weather forecasting, Climatology

DOI

10.15760/etd.7303

Physical Description

1 online resource (x, 42 pages)

Abstract

A 30-year climatology of lightning and associated synoptic meteorological patterns are characterized across the Western United States (WUS), utilizing a comprehensive composite analysis. Results generally show a preferred synoptic meteorological setup with positive 500-hPa geopotential height anomalies to the northeast of the location experiencing a lightning day, and negative sea level pressure anomalies co-located and to the northwest. Variation in preferred anomaly patterns across the western US reflects the divide between those areas affected by the North American monsoon system and areas outside the monsoonal core. Locations in the western Great Basin and northern Rocky Mountains, which are outside the monsoonal core, show preference toward greater amplitude of synoptic circulation fields compared to the interior Southwest. A northwest-to-southeast gradient in magnitude of anomalies of moisture and mid-tropospheric instability is present, with areas northwestward showing preference for greater departures compared to climatological means. These results likely reflect the prevalence of favorable mesoscale dynamics key to lightning during warm season months in locations within the monsoonal core in the interior Southwest, along with the more episodic nature of lightning-conducive features in areas peripheral to this region. Meteorological patterns for select locations are explored in more detail and two case studies of notably active lightning events are presented. This work provides an observation-based foundation for understanding meteorological patterns on lightning days, which may inform operational forecasts for lightning hazards as well as projected changes in lightning activity across the western US from climate model simulations.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/32811

Included in

Geography Commons

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