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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Observations, Analysis and Modeling of Lightning Activity in Thunderstorms, for use in Short Term Forecasting of Flash Floods

Objective

Flash floods are a serious problem in the Mediterranean region in particular, and in Europe in general. Floods result from large weather systems with embedded severe thunderstorms that deposit large amounts of rainfall in short periods of time. Since lightning activity can be detected and monitored continuously from thousands of kilometres away, we propose the use of lightning data to better now cast (3-hour prediction) and forecast (24-48 hour prediction) the location, intensity and timing of heavy convective precipitation events.

For this we plan to develop rainfall-lightning relationships using lightning and precipitation data sets in the Mediterranean region, and to use lightning information in conjunction with infrared / microwave observations from geostationary / low Earth orbiting satellites to improve cloud characterization, convection detection and precipitation retrieval from space. With the help of cloud and meso-scale models we plan to simulate numerous cases studies of past flash flood events in Europe to better understand the connection between intense precipitation and lightning activity.

The rainfall estimates for past and future floods will be input into hydrology models to investigate the ability to predict regions of flooding on the ground, together with the time lags between heavy rainfall and flooding. Once we have established a methodology to use lightning to help estimate rainfall location and intensity, we plan to develop algorithms for short-term now casting, to allow for the short-term flash flood warnings via the internet for the entire Mediterranean region, and perhaps later Europe.

Furthermore, using assimilated lightning data in mesoscale meteorological models we plan to investigate the possibility of improving the 24-48 hour forecasts of severe precipitation events. The societal benefits of such advanced warnings will be investigated, especially in relation to risk management.

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Keywords

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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FP6-2005-GLOBAL-4
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Funding Scheme

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STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
EU contribution
No data
Total cost

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Participants (5)

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