Physics
Scientific paper
Feb 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005georl..3203813m&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 32, Issue 3, CiteID L03813
Physics
21
Atmospheric Processes: Atmospheric Electricity, Atmospheric Processes: Lightning, Atmospheric Processes: Remote Sensing
Scientific paper
In situ electric field (E) measurements and inferred lightning initiation locations of three cloud-to-ground flashes are used to identify a thunderstorm region in which the preflash E exceeded the threshold for runaway breakdown. The maximum measured E in the region was 186 kV m-1 at 5.77 km altitude, which for runaway electrons is equivalent to 370 kV m-1 at sea level; this E value is ~130% of the estimated threshold for an avalanche of runaway electrons. In addition, the volume where E exceeded the runaway threshold was estimated to be 1-4 km3, with a vertical depth of about 1000 m. At least within part of this volume the characteristic scale height for exponential growth of runaway electrons was 100 m or less. Thus for these three flashes the electric field conditions necessary for runaway breakdown existed, and runaway breakdown could have initiated the flashes.
Coleman Max L.
Hamlin Timothy
Krehbiel Paul R.
Maggio C. R.
Marshall Thomas C.
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