HydroElectric Phase Feedback Model: Empirical Evidence for Electrically-Driven Lightning and Precipitation Anomalies in Storm Clouds

This technical preprint presents the HydroElectric Phase Feedback Model (HPFM), a new paradigm linking electrically-mediated microphysics in storm clouds to global lightning and precipitation anomalies. By integrating decades of satellite lightning data, geomagnetic indices, and advanced statistical analyses—including machine learning—the study reveals robust empirical relationships between planetary-scale electric fields, exclusion zone (EZ) water microstructures, and storm electrification. The paper proposes a direct connection between solar wind–modulated atmospheric charge dynamics and observed variability in lightning frequency and precipitation, outlining the next steps for laboratory validation and operational climate model improvement. This work complements recent theoretical and observational advances in exclusion zone water and cloud microphysics, providing an actionable framework for both field campaigns and climate system modeling.