Polarimetric Radar Signatures in Various Lightning Activities During Seoul (Korea) Flood on August 8, 2022

On August 8 and 9, 2022, a record-breaking rain rate of 142 mm h⁻¹, with an accumulated rainfall of more than 500 mm, was observed in the Seoul metropolitan area, Republic of Korea. This study focuses on analyzing the concentration of lightning in southern Seoul, which occurred solely on August 8. It is worth noting that the daily rainfall of August 8 was approximately twice that of August 9 (381 mm on August 8 vs. 198 mm on August 9). The RKSG (located in Yongin, 40 km south of Seoul) Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler was used to explore the characteristics of cloud microphysics associated with lightning activity. Four major heavy rain periods on August 8 were grouped into three categories of lightning rate (e.g., intense, moderate, and none), and their polarimetric signatures were compared. Significant differences in the vertical distribution of graupel were found within the temperature range of 0 °C and − 20 °C, as indicated by radar reflectivity (Z_H) > 40 dBZ and differential reflectivity (Z_DR) < 0.5 dB. Although graupel was detected in all three categories at the relatively warm temperatures of 0 °C to − 10 °C, its presence extended into colder regions exclusively in the intense category. This observation preceded the appearance of lightning by approximately 6 min. At heights with temperature ≤  − 20 °C, a high concentration of vertically aligned ice crystals was observed in lightning-prone regions, leading to a decrease in differential phase (Φ_DP). In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the microphysical characteristics of thunderstorms and their relationship to lightning activity in the Seoul metropolitan area.