Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1453
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1453
02 Jan 2023
 | 02 Jan 2023

Thunderstorm Types in Europe

Deborah Morgenstern, Isabell Stucke, Georg J. Mayr, Achim Zeileis, and Thorsten Simon

Abstract. Lightning characteristics in all seasons are investigated across Europe because it is observed that lightning strikes to tall infrastructure have no or only a weak annual cycle whereas lightning in general has a pronounced annual cycle. Using cluster analysis on ERA5 reanalysis data and EUCLID lightning data, two major thunderstorm types are found: Wind-field thunderstorms characterized by increased wind speeds, strong updrafts, and high shear occurring mainly in winter. And mass-field thunderstorms characterized by increased mass-field variables such as large CAPE values, high dewpoint temperatures, and elevated isotherm heights, occurring mostly in summer. Several sub-types of these two main thunderstorm types exist. Using principal component analysis, four topographically distinct regions in Europe are identified that share similar thunderstorm characteristics: The mediterranean, alpine-central, continental, and coastal regions, respectively. Based on these results it is possible to differentiate lightning in different seasons without a static threshold or a seasonal criterion.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

25 May 2023
Thunderstorm environments in Europe
Deborah Morgenstern, Isabell Stucke, Georg J. Mayr, Achim Zeileis, and Thorsten Simon
Weather Clim. Dynam., 4, 489–509, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-489-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-489-2023, 2023
Short summary
Deborah Morgenstern, Isabell Stucke, Georg J. Mayr, Achim Zeileis, and Thorsten Simon

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Jan 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Anonymous Referee #2, 09 Feb 2023
  • EC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Johannes Dahl, 17 Feb 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Deborah Morgenstern, 03 Mar 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Jan 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Anonymous Referee #2, 09 Feb 2023
  • EC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Johannes Dahl, 17 Feb 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1453', Deborah Morgenstern, 03 Mar 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Deborah Morgenstern on behalf of the Authors (03 Mar 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (12 Mar 2023) by Johannes Dahl
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (09 Apr 2023)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (11 Apr 2023) by Johannes Dahl
AR by Deborah Morgenstern on behalf of the Authors (17 Apr 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (18 Apr 2023) by Johannes Dahl
AR by Deborah Morgenstern on behalf of the Authors (19 Apr 2023)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

25 May 2023
Thunderstorm environments in Europe
Deborah Morgenstern, Isabell Stucke, Georg J. Mayr, Achim Zeileis, and Thorsten Simon
Weather Clim. Dynam., 4, 489–509, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-489-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-489-2023, 2023
Short summary
Deborah Morgenstern, Isabell Stucke, Georg J. Mayr, Achim Zeileis, and Thorsten Simon

Model code and software

Supplementary material: Thunderstorm Types in Europe Deborah Morgenstern, Isabell Stucke, Thorsten Simon, Georg J. Mayr, Achim Zeileis https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7436761

Deborah Morgenstern, Isabell Stucke, Georg J. Mayr, Achim Zeileis, and Thorsten Simon

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Short summary
Thunderstorms in Europe are described by two types. Mass-field thunderstorms that occur mostly in summer, over the mainland, and under similar meteorological conditions and wind-field thunderstorms that occur mostly in winter, over the sea, and under more diverse meteorological conditions. Our descriptions are independent of static thresholds and help to understand why thunderstorms in unfavorable seasons for lightning are a particular risk for tall infrastructure such as wind turbines.