• The LIFE CYCLE (3-stages) of A WATER DROP
  • in A THUNDERCLOUD
  • NUCLEATION, FRAGMENTATION and ELECTRIFICATION
  • ROGER J. CHENG
  • ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER
  • STATE UNIVERSITY of NEW YORK

 

AGGREGATION (RIMING) of CLOUD DROPLETS(10 UM) to the EDGES of A HEXAGONAL ICE CRYSTAL

by COULOMB'S FORCE.
SNOW and ICE
CLOUD SEEDING
STAGE ONE
FREEZING of
A WATER DROP
STAGE TWO
FRAGMENTATION of
A FROZEN DROP
STAGE THREE
MELTING of
A FROZEN DROP
CHARGE SEPARATION
within An ICE CRYSTAL
exploring
The UNSEEN SECRETS of The THUNDERSTORM

 

CHARGE DISTRIBUTION within
An ICE CRYSTAL

Roger J. CHENG-ASRC-SUNYA

AGGREGATION (RIMIMG) of CLOUD DROPLETS(10 UM) to the EDGES of A HEXAGONAL ICE CRYSTAL(200UM)

by COULOMB'S FORCE.
  • The clumping phenomena of ice crystals was first pointed out by Magono (1968) in his keynote speech at the International Conference of Cloud Physics, as one of several problems remaining to be resolved or having newly arisen in the field of cloud physics. Furthermore, based on his field observation, Magano (1972) suggested that the aggregation of ice crystals may be caused by the Coulombs force between ice crystal of different signs of electric charge, and in a state of growth in which the charge separation could occur within at ice crystal, as pointed out by Cheng (1967). A recent report by Rydock and Williams (1991) confirmed that charge separation was closely associated with frost growth and may be applicable to phenomena that operate in thundercloud.

Microscopic observations of individual ice crystals sampled from seeding experiments and from natural snow storms, especially from storms with thunder and lightning revealed that the clumping phenomena of ice crystals could be classified into the following categories (1) Two crystals joined in perpendicular form. (2) Frozen cloud droplets at the center of a plate type crystal, (3) Many frozen cloud droplets concentrated at the edge of a plate crystal (figure), and (4) Many frozen cloud droplets on the surface of an ice pellet. Close examination of the growth patterns of an ice crystal show a massive vapor deposition on (1) both ends of a columnar crystal, (2) outer edge of a plate crystal, and (3) surface of a frozen drop. Heat transfer measurements indicated that higher temperature is always located at the growing area of an ice crystal (Zheng 1995).

Release of latent heat associated with crystal growth by diffusion of water vapor and by riming of cloud droplets results in a negative charge concentration near the warmer region of the ice crystal. The charge generation and distribution were determined by temperature gradient within the ice crystal in accordance with thermal electric effect (Workman .and Reynolds 1950).

Laboratory study and field observation revealed that charge generation and separation within an ice crystal definitely occur in the state of growth. Many recent reports strongly indicate that the riming splintering mechanism - charge transfer during ice-ice particles collision, is unlikely to be a major factor responsible for charged ice particle generation in thunderclouds. The sublimational breakup of negatively charged massive ice fragments from frosty surface of ice particles in a state of growth (Schaefer and Cheng 1971) may open up a new pathway for further understanding the microphysical properties of ice in thunderclouds.

 

REFERENCES:

  • 1, Cheng, R J., Final Report, Yellowstone Field Research Expedition VII. 57-60, 1967.
  • 2, Magon., C., Problems on physical understanding of snowfall phenomena.
  • Proc. International Conference on Cloud Physics, Toronto, Canada, 243-248, 1968.
  • 3, Magono, C., Aggregation phenomena of ice crystals,.
  • J. Met. Soc. Japan, 50. 489-493.,1972.
  • 4, Rydock, J. and E Williams-. Charge separation associated with frost growth,
  • Q.J R Meterorol . Soc.. .117 409-419, 1991.
  • 5, Schaefer, V. J. and R. J. Cheng, The production of ice crystal fragments by sublimation and electrification,
  • J. Rech. Atmos., 5, 5-10, l971.
  • 6, Workman, E. .J. and S. E. Reynolds, Electrical phenomena occurring during the freezing of dilute aqueous solution
  • and their possible relationship to thunderstorm electricity.
  • Phys. Rev., 78 254 259 ,I950.
  • Presented at:
  • 10th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
  • on ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY
  • OSAKA, JAPAN. JUNE 10-14, 1996

 

 

AGGREGATION (RIMING) of CLOUD DROPLETS(10 UM) to the EDGES of A HEXAGONAL ICE CRYSTAL

by COULOMB'S FORCE.

exploring
The UNSEEN SECRETS of The THUNDERSTORM
  • LIFE CYCLE of A WATER DROP in A THUNDERCLOUD
  • THERMOELECTRIC EFFECT-
  • by WORKMAN and REYNOLDS

  • LIFE CYCLE of A WATER DROP in THUNDERCLOUD
  • THREE STAGES of FRAGMENTATION

REFERENCE-

  • THERMOELECTRIC EFFECT:
  • Workman, E. .J. and
  • S. E. Reynolds,

Electrical phenomena occurring during the freezing of dilute aqueous solution and their possible relationship to thunderstorm electricity.

Phys. Rev., 78 254 259 ,I950.

THERMOELECTRIC EFFECT
 

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ATMOSPHERIC
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SNOW and ICE
CLOUD SEEDING
FREEZING
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FRAGMENTATION
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MELTING of
A FROZEN DROP
CHARGE within
An ICE CRYSTAL
PUBLICATION
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The MICRO-WORLD in the THUNDERSTORM
  • AGGREGATION of ICE CRYSTALS
    • by COULOMB FORCE
    • ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER
    • STATE UNIVERSITY of NEW YORK

     

    • YELLOWSTONE FIELD RESEARCH EXPEDITION VII-1967

A preliminary microscopic examination of ice crystals collected from seeding experiments (Schaefer, Finnegan), during the Seventh Yellowstone Field Research Expedition, has indicated that several types of joined ice crystals appear on sampling plates. The number of joined ice crystals comparative to the individual ice crystals on the same plate seems dependent on location, environment, temperature gradient and electric field at the sampling area.

Photomicrographic analysis reveals that the character of joined ice crystals could be classified into three types (Figure).

(1) "I" Formation - Two or more ice crystals joined in a straight line, such as I-1and I-2. It appears mostly near great temperature gradient areas, such as those surrounding hot geysers and pools, where existing electric fields have previously been recorded by scientists. It may be assumed that a charge separation has taken place within a crystal with its polarity corresponding to the existing electric field. Attracting force between opposite charges contribute to the formation of the ice crystal chain in a straight line I

(2) "T" Formation - Two individual ice crystals joined perpendicular to each other by an exact 90 degree, such as T-1 and T-2. This phenomenon appears in most environments, provided that the ice crystals are growing in an adequately moisturized surrounding.

It is known that latent heat will be released during the condensation process of an ice crystal. In this case, of plate or spherical crystals, the temperature difference exists between the surface and its interior, and charge separation will be taking place within the ice crystal, which can be explained by thermoelectric effect. The sign of the charge is corresponding to the temperature with net negative charge concentration in a warmer region (surface).

In the case of column or needle crystals, the rate of moisture deposition is greater on the ends of an ice crystal than on the center region. Then, the net negative charge will be concentrated at both ends - warmer region of the ice crystal. Again, in both cases, the attracting force between opposite charges contribute to the "T" formation of joined ice crystals.

(3) Irregular Formation - It can be explained that individual single ice crystals fall on top of each other during sampling periods on a collective plate.

This phenomenon of joined ice crystals has been previously observed in seeding experiments in a laboratory cloud chamber with controlled conditions (Smith-Johannsen, Cheng). The above possible interpretation may provide some answers to this unusual natural phenomenon.
  • t was my pleasure to have participated in Y.F.R.E. VII. I express my sincere appre­ciation to Dr. Schaefer
  • for his invitation and for allowing me to use a part of his ice crystal collection for this study.
  • ASRC PUBLICATION: #
  • YELLOWSTONE FIELD RESEARCH EXPEDITION VII ,57-60, 1967
HOME
ATMOSPHERIC
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SNOW and ICE
CLOUD SEEDING
FREEZING
of A WATER DROP
FRAGMENTATION
of A FROZEN DROP
MELTING of
A FROZEN DROP
CHARGE within
An ICE CRYSTAL
PUBLICATION
and CITATION

 

  • CHARGE DISTRIBUTION within An ICE CRYSTAL

CITATION by: DR. Choji MAGONO -JAPAN

  • PFOFESSOR and CHAIRMAM - INT. CONF. on CLOUD PHYSICS(1968).
 
  • ROGER J. CHENG-ASRC-UALBANY
AGGREGATION (RIMIMG) of CLOUD DROPLETS(10 UM) to the EDGES of A HEXAGONAL ICE CRYSTAL(200UM)

by COULOMB FORCE.

 

 
    CITATION by:
  • DR. Choji MAGONO--PFOFESSOR and
    CHAIRMAM -INT. CONF. on CLOUD PHYSICS(1968).
A.--- Dr. Choji Magono, Professor, Geophysical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan, Chairman: Section of Ice and Snow Crystals, International Conference on Cloud Physics, (1968)in his keynote paper at the conference:

 

........ ."Cheng (1967) observed many clumped ice crystals and considered that the clumping was caused by Coulomb Force. The author also observed clumped ice crystals.......and found that the clumping seemed to occur under a microscope by Coulomb Force.......”

 

B---. From “Aggregation Phenomena of Ice Crystals,” Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan,

Vol. 50, No. 5, October, 1972:

..........".it is noted.... .that the ice crystals observed were in a state of growth in which the charge separation could occur within an ice crystal, as pointed out by Cheng (1967).......”
HOME
ATMOSPHERIC
SCIENCES
SNOW and ICE
CLOUD SEEDING
FREEZING
of A WATER DROP
FRAGMENTATION
of A FROZEN DROP
MELTING of
A FROZEN DROP
CHARGE within
An ICE CRYSTAL
PUBLICATION
and CITATION