Observations of Sprites and Elves Associated With Winter Thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean

Details Observations of Sprites and Elves Associated With Winter Thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean Observations of Sprites and Elves Associated With Winter Thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufmae41a..05g&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #AE41A-05

Mathematics

Logic

0342 Middle Atmosphere: Energy Deposition (3334), 3304 Atmospheric Electricity, 3324 Lightning, 3329 Mesoscale Meteorology

Scientific paper

The results of the 2005-6 winter sprite campaign in Israel are reported. We conducted optical ground-based observations aiming to detect transient luminous events (TLEs) above winter thunderstorms in Israel and in the area over the Mediterranean Sea between Israel, Cyprus and Lebanon. We alternated between two observation sites: the Tel-Aviv University campus in central Tel-Aviv (32.5N, 34.5E) and the Wise astronomical observatory in the Negev desert, near Mitzpe-Ramon (30N, 34.5E). We used 2 WATEC cameras, mounted on a pan-and- tilt unit with GPS time-base and event-detection software (UFO-Capture). The system was remote-controlled via the Internet and targets were chosen in real-time based on lightning locations derived from a BOLTEK lightning detection system stationed in Tel-Aviv. Detailed weather forecasts and careful analysis of lightning probability allowed us to choose between the two observation sites. The optical campaign was accompanied by ELF and VLF electromagnetic measurements from the existing TAU array in southern Israel. During five separate winter storms (December 2005 through March 2006) we detected 31 events: 27 sprites (4 halo sprites) and 4 elves. Detection ranges varied from 250 to 450km. Sprites were found to occur almost exclusively over the sea, in the height range 44-105km. Most sprites were columnar, and the number of elements varied from 1 to 9 with lengths varying from 10 to 48km. The average duration of sprites was ~43ms. All TLEs were accompanied by distinct positive ELF transients, which were clearly identified by our ELF station in Mizpe-Ramon and by the ELF station near Sopron, Hungary (range ~2500km). Calculated charge moment values were 800-1870 C·km, with some events exceeding 2500 C·km. We employed different lightning location systems (Israel Electrical Company LPATS and TOGA, ZEUS global networks) to determine the ground location of the parent lightning and succeeded in geo-locating 7 events. Based on weather radar and satellite images, it was found that most of the thunderclouds that produced sprites were isolated Cumulonimbus cells embedded within a matrix of lower rain clouds, associated with the cold sector of Cyprus lows. The relationship between the meteorological parameters, storm size, vertical cloud development and lightning properties, as well as a comparison with the properties of thunderstorms producing winter sprites in Japan, will be presented.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Observations of Sprites and Elves Associated With Winter Thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Observations of Sprites and Elves Associated With Winter Thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Observations of Sprites and Elves Associated With Winter Thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-963366