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Liu F, Neubert T, Chanrion O, Lu G, Wu T, Lyu F, Lyu W, Köhn C, Li D, Zhu B, Lei J. Polarity transitions of narrow bipolar events in thundercloud tops reaching the lower stratosphere. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7344. [PMID: 39187500 PMCID: PMC11347600 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51705-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Blue corona discharges are often generated in thunderclouds penetrating into the stratosphere and are the optical manifestation of narrow bipolar events (NBEs) observed in radio signals. While their production appears to depend on convection, the cause and nature of such discharges are not well known. Here we show the observations by a lightning detection array of unusual amounts of 982 NBEs during a tropical storm on the coastline of China. NBEs of negative polarity are predominantly observed at the cloud top reaching the stratosphere, and positive NBEs are primarily at lower altitudes. We find that the dominant polarity changes with the typical time of development of thunderstorm cells, suggesting that the polarity depends on the phase of the storm cells. Furthermore, we find that the lightning jump of negative NBEs is associated with above-anvil cirrus plumes of ice crystals and water vapor in the lower stratosphere. We propose that variations in updrafts induce changes in the altitude and charge concentrations of the cloud layers, which lead to the polarity transition. Our results have implications for studies of the chemical perturbations of greenhouse gas concentrations by corona discharges at the tropopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- CMA-USTC Laboratory of Fengyun Remote Sensing, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Department of Space and Earth Science and Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Space), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Torsten Neubert
- Department of Space and Earth Science and Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Space), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Olivier Chanrion
- Department of Space and Earth Science and Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Space), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gaopeng Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ting Wu
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Fanchao Lyu
- Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Weitao Lyu
- Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Christoph Köhn
- Department of Space and Earth Science and Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Space), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Dongshuai Li
- Department of Space and Earth Science and Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Space), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Baoyou Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Jiuhou Lei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, Hefei, China.
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2
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Duan M, Sakamoto T, Enoto T, Wada Y, Kamogawa M, Ito K. Catalog of 525 sprites observed over Japan from September 2016 to March 2021. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13197. [PMID: 36873510 PMCID: PMC9976210 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a catalog of 525 sprites detected over the Sea of Japan and a northeast part of the Pacific Ocean from Sagamihara between September 2016 and March 2021. We analyze the morphology of 525, estimate the location of 441, and calculate the accurate top height of 15 sprites. More than half of our samples occurred in winter, while only 11% were in summer. In terms of morphology, 52% to 60% column type sprites took place in spring, autumn, and winter, while only 15.5% in summer. Therefore, summer thunderstorms are more likely to produce sprites with complex structures like carrots. Furthermore, sprites in summer are almost all located on the main island of Japan, and their spatial distributions are significantly different from the other seasons. Finally, from the perspective of the time distribution, the number of sprites is the largest at 1:00 JST. In addition, the morphology of sprites tends to be simple (e.g., a column type) at midnight JST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maomao Duan
- Department of Physical science, Aoyama Gakuin University, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
- Corresponding author.
| | - Takanori Sakamoto
- Department of Physical science, Aoyama Gakuin University, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
| | - Teruaki Enoto
- Extreme Natural Phenomena RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yuuki Wada
- Extreme Natural Phenomena RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
- Division of Electrical, Electronic and Infocommunications Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masashi Kamogawa
- Natural Disaster Research Section, Global Center for Asian and Regional Research, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
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3
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Boggs LD, Mach D, Bruning E, Liu N, van der Velde OA, Montanyá J, Cummer S, Palivec K, Chmielewski V, MacGorman D, Peterson M. Upward propagation of gigantic jets revealed by 3D radio and optical mapping. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl8731. [PMID: 35921419 PMCID: PMC9348794 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl8731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Occasionally, lightning will exit the top of a thunderstorm and connect to the lower edge of space, forming a gigantic jet. Here, we report on observations of a negative gigantic jet that transferred an extraordinary amount of charge between the troposphere and ionosphere (∼300 C). It occurred in unusual circumstances, emerging from an area of weak convection. As the discharge ascended from the cloud top, tens of very high frequency (VHF) radio sources were detected from 22 to 45 km altitude, while simultaneous optical emissions (777.4 nm OI emitted from lightning leaders) remained near cloud top (15 to 20 km altitude). This implies that the high-altitude VHF sources were produced by streamers and the streamer discharge activity can extend all the way from near cloud top to the ionosphere. The simultaneous three-dimensional radio and optical data indicate that VHF lightning networks detect emissions from streamer corona rather than the leader channel, which has broad implications to lightning physics beyond that of gigantic jets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi D. Boggs
- Severe Storms Research Center, Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Lab, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Smyrna, GA, USA
| | - Doug Mach
- Science and Technology Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Eric Bruning
- Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Ningyu Liu
- Department of Physics and Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Oscar A. van der Velde
- Lightning Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, Politécnica de Catalunya, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Joan Montanyá
- Lightning Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, Politécnica de Catalunya, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Steve Cummer
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Vanna Chmielewski
- Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research Operations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Don MacGorman
- Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research Operations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
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4
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Kwan V, Consta S. Conical Shape Fluctuations Determine the Rate of Ion Evaporation and the Emitted Cluster Size Distribution from Multicharged Droplets. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:3229-3238. [PMID: 35549274 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c02056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ion evaporation mechanism (IEM) is perceived to be a major pathway for disintegration of multi-ion charged droplets found in atmospheric and sprayed aerosols. However, the precise mechanism of IEM and the effect of the nature of the ions in the emitted cluster size distribution have not yet been established despite its broad use in mass spectrometry and atmospheric chemistry over the past half century. Here, we present a systematic study of the emitted ion cluster distribution in relation to their spatial distribution in the parent droplet using atomistic modeling. It is found that in the parent droplet, multiple kosmotropic and weakly polarizable chaotropic ions (Cs+) are buried deeper within the droplet than polarizable chaotropic ions (Cl-, I-). This differentiation in the ion location is only captured by a polarizable model. It is demonstrated that the emitted cluster size distribution is determined by dynamic conical deformations and not by the equilibrium ion depth within the parent droplet as the IEM models assume. Critical factors that determine the cluster size distribution such as the charge sign asymmetry that have not been considered in models and in experiments are presented. We argue that the existing IEM analytical models do not establish a clear difference between IEM and Rayleigh fission. We propose a shift in the existing view for IEM from the equilibrium properties of the parent droplet to the chemistry in the conical shape fluctuations that serve as the centers for ion emission. Consequently, chemistry in the conical fluctuations may also be a key element to explain charge states of macromolecules in mass spectrometry and may have potential applications in catalysis due to the electric field in the conical region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Kwan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Styliani Consta
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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5
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Liu N, Dwyer JR, Tilles JN. Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum of a Composite System. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 125:025101. [PMID: 32701353 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.025101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In many physics fields, the radio emission of a composite system composed of a large number of randomly occurring but similar emission sources is encountered. In general, the composite system lasts longer than each individual component and individual source currents vary much more rapidly. This Letter presents a theory to understand the electromagnetic radiation spectrum of such a system. If the temporal distribution of the random occurrence of the component and the distribution to describe the relevant emission source properties are known, the spectrum of the composite system can be readily found from this theory. There are two main terms that define the spectrum: one term results from the coherent summation of the contributions from individual sources and is proportional to the square of the total number of the components in the system; the other term results from an incoherent summation and is proportional to the first power of that number. This can lead to drastically different spectral magnitudes in different spectral regions, typically with the spectral magnitude in the lower frequency region many orders of magnitude stronger than that in the higher frequency region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningyu Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy & Space Science Center (EOS), The University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - Joseph R Dwyer
- Department of Physics and Astronomy & Space Science Center (EOS), The University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - Julia N Tilles
- Department of Physics and Astronomy & Space Science Center (EOS), The University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
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6
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van der Velde OA, Montanyà J, López JA, Cummer SA. Gigantic jet discharges evolve stepwise through the middle atmosphere. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4350. [PMID: 31554792 PMCID: PMC6761152 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12261-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2002 it was discovered that a lightning discharge can rise out of the top of tropical thunderstorms and branch out spectacularly to the base of the ionosphere at 90 km altitude. Several dozens of such gigantic jets have been recorded or photographed since, but eluded capture by high-speed video cameras. Here we report on 4 gigantic jets recorded in Colombia at a temporal resolution of 200 µs to 1 ms. During the rising stage, one or more luminous steps are revealed at 32-40 km, before a continuous final jump of negative streamers to the ionosphere, starting in a bidirectional (bipolar) fashion. The subsequent trailing jet extends upward from the jump onset, with a current density well below that of lightning leaders. Magnetic field signals tracking the charge transfer and optical Geostationary Lightning Mapper data are now matched unambiguously to the precisely timed final jump process in a gigantic jet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A van der Velde
- Lightning Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, Colon 1, Terrassa, 08222, Spain.
| | - Joan Montanyà
- Lightning Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, Colon 1, Terrassa, 08222, Spain
| | - Jesús A López
- Lightning Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, Colon 1, Terrassa, 08222, Spain
| | - Steven A Cummer
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Duke University, PO Box 90291, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
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7
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Peterson M, Rudlosky S. The Time Evolution of Optical Lightning Flashes. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. ATMOSPHERES : JGR 2019; 124:333-349. [PMID: 31632891 PMCID: PMC6800735 DOI: 10.1029/2018jd028741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The composition and time evolution of lightning are examined using the Lighting Imaging Sensor (LIS). Frame-by-frame optical lightning measurements are clustered into features whose radiant energy, horizontal footprint, and timing may be analyzed statistically. A LIS series feature is used to describe distinct periods of near continuous illumination that persists over multiple LIS frames. Series are integrated into the LIS clustering hierarchy between the group and flash level. An average series illuminates 40% of the flash footprint while accounting for 20% of the flash radiance, and just 1% of the flash duration. LIS flashes typically contain optical emissions that are exceptionally radiant and may persist over multiple frames. Series features cluster these bright optical pulses, allowing their number and time separation to be quantified in each flash. This optical multiplicity averages 1.7 for flashes with at least one particularly radiant group. Multigroup series most often occur early in the flash duration with 13% to 18% at first light. Series are typically separated by 100 ms or more in multiseries flashes. Bright series, by contrast, typically occur in rapid succession, with at most a few dozen milliseconds between them. Because series are optical features, they may result from any physical process that produces strong optical emissions. The statistics presented herein support the idea that series may originate from multiple physical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Peterson
- Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center/Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites-Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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8
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Abstract
Gigantic jets are atmospheric electrical discharges that propagate from the top of thunderclouds to the lower ionosphere. They begin as lightning leaders inside the thundercloud, and the thundercloud charge structure primarily determines if the leader is able to escape upward and form a gigantic jet. No observationally verified studies have been reported on the thundercloud charge structures of the parent storms of gigantic jets. Here we present meteorological observations and lightning simulation results to identify a probable thundercloud charge structure of those storms. The charge structure features a narrow upper charge region that forms near the end of an intense convective pulse. The convective pulse produces strong storm top divergence and turbulence, as indicated by large values of storm top radial velocity differentials and spectrum width. The simulations show the charge structure produces leader trees closely matching observations. This charge structure may occur at brief intervals during a thunderstorm's evolution due to the brief nature of convective pulses, which may explain the rarity of gigantic jets compared to other forms of atmospheric electrical discharges.
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9
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Cohen MB, Said RK, Paschal EW, McCormick JC, Gross NC, Thompson L, Higginson-Rollins M, Inan US, Chang J. Broadband longwave radio remote sensing instrumentation. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2018; 89:094501. [PMID: 30278759 DOI: 10.1063/1.5041419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We present the performance characteristics of a high-sensitivity radio receiver for the frequency band 0.5-470 kHz, known as the Low Frequency Atmospheric Weather Electromagnetic System for Observation, Modeling, and Education, or LF AWESOME. The receiver is an upgraded version of the VLF AWESOME, completed in 2004, which provided high sensitivity broadband radio measurements of natural lightning emissions, transmitting beacons, and radio emissions from the near-Earth space environment. It has been deployed at many locations worldwide and used as the basis for dozens of scientific studies. We present here a significant upgrade to the AWESOME, in which the frequency range has been extended to include the LF and part of the medium frequency (MF) bands, the sensitivity improved by 10-25 dB to be as low as 0.03 fT/ Hz , depending on the frequency, and timing error reduced to 15-20 ns range. The expanded capabilities allow detection of radio atmospherics from lightning strokes at global distances and multiple traverses around the world. It also allows monitoring of transmitting beacons in the LF/MF band at thousands of km distance. We detail the specification of the LF AWESOME and demonstrate a number of scientific applications. We also describe and characterize a new algorithm for minimum shift keying demodulation for VLF/LF transmitters for ionospheric remote sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morris B Cohen
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0360, USA
| | - Ryan K Said
- Vaisala, Inc., Boulder Operations, Louisville, Colorado 80027, USA
| | - Evans W Paschal
- Whistler Radio Services, Anderson Island, Washington 98303, USA
| | - Jackson C McCormick
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0360, USA
| | - Nicholas C Gross
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0360, USA
| | | | - Marc Higginson-Rollins
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0360, USA
| | - Umran S Inan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Jeffrey Chang
- Omnicell, Inc., Mountain View, California 94043, USA
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10
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Assessment of Unusual Gigantic Jets observed during the Monsoon season: First observations from Indian Subcontinent. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16436. [PMID: 29180665 PMCID: PMC5704000 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16696-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Gigantic Jets are electric discharges from thunderstorm cloud tops to the bottom of ionosphere at ~90 km altitude and electrically connect the troposphere and lower ionosphere. Since their first report in 2002, sporadic observations have been reported from ground and space based observations. Here we report first observations of Gigantic Jets in Indian subcontinent over the Indo-Gangetic plains during the monsoon season. Two storms each produced two jets with characteristics not documented so far. Jets propagated ~37 km up remarkably in ~5 ms with velocity of ~7.4 × 106ms−1 and disappeared within ~40–80 ms, which is faster compared to jets reported earlier. The electromagnetic signatures show that they are of negative polarity, transporting net negative charge of ~17–23 C to the lower ionosphere. One jet had an unusual form observed for the first time, which emerged from the leading edge of a slowly drifting complex convective cloud close to the highest regions at ~17 km altitude. A horizontal displacement of ~10 km developed at ~50 km altitude before connecting to the lower ionosphere. Modeling of these Gigantic jets suggests that Gigantic Jets may bend when initiated at the edge of clouds with misaligned vertical charge distribution.
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11
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Kawaguchi Y, Yokobori SI, Hashimoto H, Yano H, Tabata M, Kawai H, Yamagishi A. Investigation of the Interplanetary Transfer of Microbes in the Tanpopo Mission at the Exposed Facility of the International Space Station. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:363-76. [PMID: 27176813 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The Tanpopo mission will address fundamental questions on the origin of terrestrial life. The main goal is to test the panspermia hypothesis. Panspermia is a long-standing hypothesis suggesting the interplanetary transport of microbes. Another goal is to test the possible origin of organic compounds carried from space by micrometeorites before the terrestrial origin of life. To investigate the panspermia hypothesis and the possible space origin of organic compounds, we performed space experiments at the Exposed Facility (EF) of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) of the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was named Tanpopo, which in Japanese means dandelion. We capture any orbiting microparticles, such as micrometeorites, space debris, and terrestrial particles carrying microbes as bioaerosols, by using blocks of silica aerogel. We also test the survival of microbial species and organic compounds in the space environment for up to 3 years. The goal of this review is to introduce an overview of the Tanpopo mission with particular emphasis on the investigation of the interplanetary transfer of microbes. The Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism with aluminum Capture Panels (CPs) and Exposure Panels (EPs) was exposed on the EF-JEM on May 26, 2015. The first CPs and EPs will be returned to the ground in mid-2016. Possible escape of terrestrial microbes from Earth to space will be evaluated by investigating the upper limit of terrestrial microbes by the capture experiment. Possible mechanisms for transfer of microbes over the stratosphere and an investigation of the effect of the microbial cell-aggregate size on survivability in space will also be discussed. KEY WORDS Panspermia-Astrobiology-Low-Earth orbit. Astrobiology 16, 363-376.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Kawaguchi
- 1 Institute of Space and Astronautical Science , Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), Sagamihara, Japan
- 2 School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences , Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Yokobori
- 2 School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences , Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Hashimoto
- 1 Institute of Space and Astronautical Science , Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Hajime Yano
- 1 Institute of Space and Astronautical Science , Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Makoto Tabata
- 3 Graduate School of Science, Chiba University , Chiba-shi, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Kawai
- 3 Graduate School of Science, Chiba University , Chiba-shi, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yamagishi
- 2 School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences , Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
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12
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Liu N, Spiva N, Dwyer JR, Rassoul HK, Free D, Cummer SA. Upward electrical discharges observed above Tropical Depression Dorian. Nat Commun 2015; 6:5995. [PMID: 25607345 PMCID: PMC4354034 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Observation of upward electrical discharges from thunderstorms has been sporadically reported in the scientific literature. According to their terminal altitudes, they are classified as starters (20–30 km), jets (40–50 km) and gigantic jets (70–90 km). They not only have a significant impact on the occupied atmospheric volumes but also electrically couple different atmospheric regions. However, as they are rare and unpredictable, our knowledge of them has been built on observations that typically record only one type of such discharges. Here we report a close-distance observation of seven upward discharges including one starter, two jets and four gigantic jets above Tropical Depression Dorian. Our optical and electromagnetic data indicate that all events are of negative polarity, suggesting they are initiated in the same thundercloud charge region. The data also indicate that the lightning-like discharge channel can extend above thunderclouds by about 30 km, but the discharge does not emit low-frequency electromagnetic radiation as normal lightning. Upward electrical discharges from thunderstorms were discovered recently, and only a very limited set of observations exist because they are rare and unpredictable. Here, the authors present recordings of different types of the discharge above a storm, which contradict current theories of their origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningyu Liu
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida 32901, USA
| | - Nicholas Spiva
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida 32901, USA
| | - Joseph R Dwyer
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida 32901, USA
| | - Hamid K Rassoul
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida 32901, USA
| | - Dwayne Free
- Space Coast Intelligent Solutions, Melbourne, Florida 32934, USA
| | - Steven A Cummer
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
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13
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Yang J, Feng G. A gigantic jet event observed over a thunderstorm in mainland China. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-012-5486-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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14
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Soula S, van der Velde O, Montanya J, Huet P, Barthe C, Bór J. Gigantic jets produced by an isolated tropical thunderstorm near Réunion Island. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010jd015581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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15
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Abstract
This paper presents evidence of an apparent connection between ball lightning and a green fireball. On the evening of the 16 May 2006 at least three fireballs were seen by many people in the skies of Queensland, Australia. One of the fireballs was seen passing over the Great Divide about 120 km west of Brisbane, and soon after, a luminous green ball about 30 cm in diameter was seen rolling down the slope of the Great Divide. A detailed description given by a witness indicates that the phenomenon was probably a highly luminous form of ball lightning. A hypothesis presented in this paper is that the passage of the Queensland fireball meteor created an electrically conductive path between the ionosphere and ground, providing energy for the ball lightning phenomenon. A strong similarity is noted between the Queensland fireball and the Pasamonte fireball seen in New Mexico in 1933. Both meteors exhibit a twist in the tail that could be explained by hydrodynamic forces. The possibility that multiple sightings of fireballs across southeast Queensland were produced owing to fragments from comet 73P Schwassmann–Wachmann 3 is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Hughes
- Department of Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
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16
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Inan US, Cummer SA, Marshall RA. A survey of ELF and VLF research on lightning-ionosphere interactions and causative discharges. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009ja014775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- U. S. Inan
- STAR Laboratory; Stanford University; Stanford California USA
- Koç University; Istanbul Turkey
| | - S. A. Cummer
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department; Duke University; Durham North Carolina USA
| | - R. A. Marshall
- STAR Laboratory; Stanford University; Stanford California USA
- Center for Space Physics; Boston University; Boston Massachusetts USA
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Farges T, Blanc E. Characteristics of infrasound from lightning and sprites near thunderstorm areas. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009ja014700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Park JH, Garipov GK, Jeon JA, Khrenov BA, Kim JE, Kim M, Kim YK, Lee CH, Lee J, Na GW, Nam S, Park IH, Park YS. Obscura telescope with a MEMS micromirror array for space observation of transient luminous phenomena or fast-moving objects. OPTICS EXPRESS 2008; 16:20249-20257. [PMID: 19065163 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.020249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We introduce a novel telescope consisting of a pinhole-like camera with rotatable MEMS micromirrors substituting for pinholes. The design is ideal for observations of transient luminous phenomena or fast-moving objects, such as upper atmospheric lightning and bright gamma ray bursts. The advantage of the MEMS "obscura telescope" over conventional cameras is that it is capable both of searching for events over a wide field of view, and fast zooming to allow detailed investigation of the structure of events. It is also able to track the triggering object to investigate its space-time development, and to center the interesting portion of the image on the photodetector array. We present the proposed system and the test results for the MEMS obscura telescope which has a field of view of 11.3 degrees, sixteen times zoom-in and tracking within 1 ms.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Park
- Research Center of MEMS Space Telescope and Department of Physics, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyun-dong, Seoul 120-750, Korea
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Chen AB, Kuo CL, Lee YJ, Su HT, Hsu RR, Chern JL, Frey HU, Mende SB, Takahashi Y, Fukunishi H, Chang YS, Liu TY, Lee LC. Global distributions and occurrence rates of transient luminous events. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008ja013101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfred B. Chen
- Department of Physics; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
- Plasma and Space Science Center; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Ling Kuo
- Department of Physics; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
- Institute of Space Science; National Central University; Jhongli Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jen Lee
- Department of Physics; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
| | - Han-Tzong Su
- Department of Physics; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
- Earth Dynamical System Research Center; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
| | - Rue-Ron Hsu
- Department of Physics; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
- Earth Dynamical System Research Center; National Cheng Kung University; Tainan Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Long Chern
- Department of Photonics; National Chiao Tung University; Hsinchu Taiwan
| | - Harald U. Frey
- Space Sciences Laboratory; University of California; Berkeley California USA
| | - Stephen B. Mende
- Space Sciences Laboratory; University of California; Berkeley California USA
| | | | | | | | - Tie-Yue Liu
- National Space Organization; HsinChu City, Hsinchu Taiwan
| | - Lou-Chuang Lee
- Institute of Space Science; National Central University; Jhongli Taiwan
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Sentman DD, Stenbaek-Nielsen HC, McHarg MG, Morrill JS. Plasma chemistry of sprite streamers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007jd008941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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van der Velde OA, Lyons WA, Nelson TE, Cummer SA, Li J, Bunnell J. Analysis of the first gigantic jet recorded over continental North America. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2007jd008575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Moss GD, Pasko VP, Liu N, Veronis G. Monte Carlo model for analysis of thermal runaway electrons in streamer tips in transient luminous events and streamer zones of lightning leaders. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2005ja011350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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News in brief. Nature 2004; 429:335. [PMID: 15164031 DOI: 10.1038/429334a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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