The effect of charge density in tropospheric thunderclouds on production of sprites and terrestrial gamma ray flashes

Details The effect of charge density in tropospheric thunderclouds on production of sprites and terrestrial gamma ray flashes The effect of charge density in tropospheric thunderclouds on production of sprites and terrestrial gamma ray flashes

Sep 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011jgra..11609313b&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 116, Issue A9, CiteID A09313

Physics

Atmospheric Processes: Atmospheric Electricity, Atmospheric Processes: Theoretical Modeling (4316)

Scientific paper

We demonstrate that positive cloud-to-ground lightning flash (most often responsible for sprites) from stratiform tropospheric thundercloud leading to charge moment change iΔMq high above the sprite “threshold” 500 C km really triggers the high-altitude discharge exciting the air luminescence at sprite altitudes with brightness close to the observed brightness. Specifically, we present results for three configurations with the same charges Qcl = 200 C located at altitudes 6 and 8 km (iΔMq = 1200 C km for +Qcl at 6 km and iΔMq = 1600 C km for +Qcl at 8 km) differing by a magnitude of charge density, namely, σ = 1.86, 2.88, and 4.41 C km-2. All three configurations produce luminescence at sprite altitudes with brightness close to the observed one. In addition, the configuration with σ = 2.88 C km-2 produces observable γ emission, which can be detected in near space as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs). The configuration with σ = 4.41 C km-2, provided it really could develop, would produce a blue fluorescence directly near the cloud top and extremely intensive γ emission not observed till now. The results obtained for smaller σ prove that too small-charge density in stratiform thunderclouds and consequently too weak electric field above them could account for the lack of Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager TGFs correlated with large-charge moment change.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The effect of charge density in tropospheric thunderclouds on production of sprites and terrestrial gamma ray flashes 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 The effect of charge density in tropospheric thunderclouds on production of sprites and terrestrial gamma ray flashes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The effect of charge density in tropospheric thunderclouds on production of sprites and terrestrial gamma ray flashes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1406333