The possibilities of modifying lightning storms in the northern Rockies

Vincent J. Schaefer

Treesearch

The possibilities of modifying lightning storms in the northern Rockies

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Vincent J. Schaefer

Year:

1949

Type:

Other

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Station Paper No. 19. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 17 p.

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Download (PDF 1.93 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/48975.pdf

Abstract

The supercooling of water is a very common and universal phenomenon. Despite the common belief that water always freezes at 320 F (0° C) it can be easily shown that clouds of small water droplets normally cool to temperatures of 0° F (-17.5° C) without the formation of any ice crystals whatever. If it were not for this supercooling phenomenon we would not have the serious hazard to airplane flight through cold clouds which sometimes coat propellers and wing surfaces with heavy loads of ice. Neither would we experience intense lightning storms if clouds did not supercool.

Keywords

lightning storms, supercooling, clouds

Citation

Schaefer, Vincent J. 1949. The possibilities of modifying lightning storms in the northern Rockies. Station Paper No. 19. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 17 p.