Cloud electrification models are a powerful tool to study the physical mechanisms that are responsible for the existence of electric field inside thunderstorms. These models are very complex and include a wide variety of cloud properties, atmospheric motions and physical interactions. In this work, we present the equations to simulate the dynamics and convection of a cloud in 3D. By solving the three equations of conservation of momentum, the thermodynamic and the continuity equations we can simulate various physical processes necessary to create a thunderstorm cloud. The equations for conservation of momentum include the contribution from the pressure, wind advection and friction and the thermodynamic equation will consider turbulent effects as well as latent heat absorbed or released from the hydrometeors phase transitions. Coriolis effects will be neglected. The next stage of the study will be the inclusion of the microphysical equations, considering seven classes of hydrometeors, charge transfer equations to be associated with the microphysical interactions and a parametrization of the initiation of a lightning discharge. The electrification model will be fully coupled with the dynamical and microphysical equations. Sensitivity tests will be performed to verify which electrification mechanism leads to the most realistic results by comparing the output of the model with data acquired from a real thunderstorm.
Redes Sociais