Journal Article

The Role of Global Thunderstorm Activity in Modulating Global Cirrus Clouds

Price, C., Saha, J., Guha, A.

2023

Overview

Cirrus clouds provide a significant radiative forcing on the Earth's climate system. This paper looks at the connection in space and time between monthly mean lightning activity observed from the Lightning Imaging Sensor on board the International Space Station, and the global monthly mean cirrus cloud cover obtained from the MERRA‐2 reanalysis product. The correlation coefficient between the global monthly mean cloud optical thickness of the cirrus clouds (clouds at altitudes above the 400 hPa pressure levels) with the monthly mean lightning flash counts is 0.84, implying that monthly mean lightning can explain 70% of monthly variability of the global high cloud optical thickness. In addition, lightning amount explains nearly 60% of the monthly mean global area coverage of cirrus clouds. Given these statistically significant connections between lightning and cirrus clouds, we propose using global lightning data as an additional tool for monitoring monthly variability of cirrus clouds. Plain Language Summary Cirrus clouds are one of the most important components maintaining the Earth's radiation budget. They reflect shortwave radiation from the Sun while absorbing the longwave radiation from the Earth. The net cloud radiative forcing for cirrus clouds results a warming of the climate. More/less cirrus clouds result in more/less warming of the planet. The moisture for the formation of cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere is transported there in large part via deep convective storms, many associated with lightning activity and hence defined as thunderstorms. An increasing in cirrus clouds in a warmer atmosphere will amplify the initial warming. We explored in this study the relationship between global cirrus cloud coverage and global lightning activity. The results of the research show that 60%–70% of the monthly variability in global cirrus clouds can be explained by mean global lightning activity. Key Points Cirrus clouds are one of the essential components in the atmosphere, with many important feedbacks on the radiation balance of Earth Monthly mean lightning can explain 70% of the monthly variability of the global high cloud optical thickness Lightning explains nearly 60% of the monthly mean global area coverage of cirrus clouds

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Atmosphere / Cirrus clouds / Climate / climate forcing / Climate system / Cloud cover / Cloud formation / cloud optical thickness (COT) / Clouds / Convective storms / Correlation coefficient / Correlation coefficients / Earth / Global warming / International Space Station / Lightning / Lightning activity / Lightning flashes / lightning imaging sensor‐international space station (LIS‐ISS) / Long wave radiation / Moisture effects / Monthly / Optical thickness / Radiation / Radiation budget / Radiative forcing / Short wave radiation / Space stations / Spacecraft components / Statistical analysis / Storms / Thunderstorm activity / Thunderstorms / Upper atmosphere / Variability