On the physics of high altitude lightning

Details On the physics of high altitude lightning On the physics of high altitude lightning

Jan 1995

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995georl..22...85m&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 22, no. 2, p. 85-88

Physics

37

Electromagnetic Pulses, High Altitude, Lightning, Thunderstorms, Upper Atmosphere, Atmospheric Physics, Clouds (Meteorology), Mathematical Models

Scientific paper

Past and recent observations indicate the presence of lightning at altitudes in excess of 30 km. The phenomenon is manifested as a high altitude optical flash, correlated with the presence of giant thunderstorms in the atmosphere below. This letter presents the first physical model of the process. The model is based on low frequency RF break-down of the upper atmosphere, ignited by the upward propagating electromagnetic pulses due to conventional low altitude lightning. Horizontal intercloud lightning strokes form the optimal configuration. Horizontal lightning discharges with cloud-to-cloud moment charge approx. 6,000-8,000 C-km account for the observed level of optical emissions.

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