Laboratory experiments on the effect of trace chemicals on charge transfer during ice–hail collision

Laboratory experiments were carried out inside the cylindrical steel chamber kept inside the walk-in cold room, which can reach a temperature of − 30 °C, to investigate the effect of ionic compounds on charge transfer during the collision between ice crystals and graupel in the presence of supercooled water droplets. Experiments were carried out at a constant impact velocity of 2.2 m/s using pure water (Milli-Q, 18.2 MΩ-cm) and trace amount of ionic compounds at low rime accretion rate (RAR) and crystal sizes below 50 µm diameter in the temperature regions of − 6 to − 10 °C, − 16 to − 19 °C and − 21 to − 25 °C. It was observed that ice crystals interacting with graupel made of pure water obeys the charge sign regimes [Saunders, C.P.R., Keith, W.D., and Mitzeva, R.P., 1991. The effect of liquid water on thunderstorm charging. J. Geophys. Res. 96, D6, 11007–11017.] as a function of temperature and RAR for all temperatures ranging from − 6 to − 25 °C. The validity of the positive and negative charging zones of Saunders et al. [Saunders, C.P.R., Keith, W.D., and Mitzeva, R.P., 1991. The effect of liquid water on thunderstorm charging. J. Geophys. Res. 96, D6, 11007–11017.] for low effective liquid water content (EW) was verified.