Title page for ETD etd-11072008-121219

Type of Document

Dissertation

Author

Rose, Leanna Shea

Author's Email Address

srose@westga.edu

URN

etd-11072008-121219

Title

A Spatial Analysis Of Lightning Strikes And Precipitation In The Greater Atlanta, Georgia (USA) Region

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Geography, Department of

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Jon Anthony Stallins	Committee Chair
James B. Elsner	Committee Member
Xiaojun Yang	Committee Member
Timothy Chapin	Outside Committee Member

Keywords

Urban Climates
Heat Islands
Data Mining

Date of Defense

2008-10-10

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

This study examines patterns of cloud-to-ground flash enhancement and precipitation for the greater Atlanta, Georgia region. Previous research documented greater annual average flash densities (6 to 8 km-2/yr), and more flash days northeast of the city. Precipitation enhancement has also been observed through the use of both ground-based gauge and spaceborne radar data. Using an approach based in cartographic visualization and GIS, a climatology is developed to identify and characterize possible causal mechanisms and variability in flash production. To delineate how prevailing winds contribute to this hotspot, lightning flashes were selected for weak forcing conditions during the summer months (May through September, 1995 through 2003). The steering winds for the events that lower flashes in the northeast hotspot were clustered according to wind speed and direction to isolate variability in flash production around the city. Flash events were coupled to rainfall data (NARR) to visualize associated precipitation production. The spatial patterning of precipitation and cloud-to-ground lightning enhancement around Atlanta is indicative of urban alteration of convective processes. Downwind areas of increased flash activity and precipitation accumulation shifted around the urban area in accordance with steering winds from several directions. This research emonstrates the need for contextual analysis of urban lightning and precipitation patterns that accounts for the variability of localized conditions.

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