A Gigantic Jet Observed Over an Mesoscale Convective System in Midlatitude Region. Issue 2 (17th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Jing; Sato, Mitsuteru; Liu, Ningyu; Lu, Gaopeng; Wang, Yu; Wang, Zhichao
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 123:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 977
• Page End: 996
• Publication Date: 2018-01-17
• Subjects: gigantic jet -- MCS -- sprite -- lightning; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JD026878
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-897X

Abstract

Abstract: Gigantic jets (GJs) are mostly observed over summer tropical or tropical‐like thunderstorms. This study reports observation of a GJ over a mesoscale convective system (MCS) in the midlatitude region in eastern China. The GJ is observed over a relatively weak radar reflectivity region ahead of the leading line, and the maximum radar echo top along the GJ azimuth was lower than the tropopause in the same region, significantly different from past studies that indicate summer GJs are usually associated with convective surges or overshooting tops. Also different from most of previous observations showing GJ‐producing summer thunderstorms only produced GJ type of transient luminous events during their life cycles, two sprites were also captured in a time window of 15 min containing the GJ, indicating that the MCS provides favorable conditions not only for the GJ but also for the sprites. The balloon‐borne soundings of the MCS show that there were large wind shears in the middle and upper levels of the thundercloud, which may have played important roles for the GJ production. Key Points: Detailed analysis of thunderstorm structure and lightning activity causing both GJ and positive sprites Confirming the role of large wind shear in the upper level of the thundercloud for GJ production GJ can be produced by thunderstorm without overshooting tops