Benjamin Franklin would be understandably disappointed. Here we are, more than 260 years after first demonstration in Marly-la-Ville, France, of sparks drawn from a vertical iron rod in a thunderstorm, to establish the presence of lightning electrification and yet not having unraveled among the many complexities of variables involved in such severe weather condition a specific role, or not, for electrical aspects of the process of tornadogenesis. Bernard Vonnegut and colleagues performed pioneering researches to establish such connection during the period from the 1960s through the 1970s; see for example references. It seems fair to say that a storm of investigations was spawned with results in opposition. Davies-Jones RP in particular led a valuable discussion ending with a concluding statement that “there [was] little observational evidence to support [the theory of a main role for thunderstorm electricity in tornadogenesis]”. One purpose of the present report these many years afterward is to provide an update of experimental observations and analysis relating to the issue.

For more Details: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/electrical-role-for-severe-storm-tornadogenesis-and-modification-2332-2594-1000139.php?aid=61637

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