  A great body of research literature pertaining to microburst generation in
convective storms has focused on thermodynamic factors of the pre-convective
environment as well as storm morphology as observed by radar imagery. Derived
products based on Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)
sounder data have been found to be especially useful in the study of
thermodynamic environments. However, addressed much less frequently is the
relationship between convective storm electrification, lightning phenomenology
and downburst occurrence. Previous research in lightning production by
convective storms has identified that electrification, phenomenology, and
polarity are dependent upon the thermodynamic structure of the ambient
atmosphere, especially vertical moisture stratification. Thus, relevant
parameters to describe the thermodynamic setting would include convective
available potential energy (CAPE), due to its influence on updraft strength,
and moisture characteristics of the boundary layer, due to its relationship to
precipitation physical processes. It has already been addressed that buoyant
energy and moisture stratification are important factors in convective storm
development and downburst generation.
