Sprites, ELF Transients, and Positive Ground Strokes

Boccippio, Dennis J.; Williams, Earle; Heckman, S.; Lyons, Walter A.; Baker, Ian; Boldi, R.

doi:10.1126/science.269.5227.1088

Cited by 370 publications

(278 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Sprites are large luminous discharges, which appear in the altitude range <40-90 km above large thunderstorms typically following intense positive cloud-to-ground lightning discharges Boccippio et al 1995;see also Fig. 13).…”

Section: General Phenomenology Of Spritesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Processes Related to Discharges in Planetary Atmospheres

Roussel-Dupré

Colman

Symbalisty

et al. 2008

Space Sciences Series of ISSI

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This paper focuses on the rudimentary principles of discharge physics. The kinetic theory of electron transport in gases relevant to planetary atmospheres is examined and results of detailed Boltzmann kinetic calculations are presented for a range of applied electric fields. Comparisons against experimental swarm data are made. Both conventional breakdown and runaway breakdown are covered in detail. The phenomena of transient luminous events (TLEs), particularly sprites, and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) are discussed briefly as examples of discharges that occur in the terrestrial environment. The observations of terrestrial lightning that exist across the electromagnetic spectrum and presented throughout this volume fit well with the broader understanding of discharge physics that we present in this paper. We hope that this material provides the foundation on which explorations in search of discharge processes on other planets can be based and previous evidence confirmed or refuted.R. Roussel-Dupré ( ) · J.J. Colman · E. Symbalisty

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Section: General Phenomenology Of Spritesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Processes Related to Discharges in Planetary Atmospheres

Roussel-Dupré

Colman

Symbalisty

et al. 2008

Space Sciences Series of ISSI

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“…Since the discovery of sprites about 10 years ago [Franz et al, 1990], attention has been focused on the unusually strong (both in peak current and total charge transfer) lightning discharges known to excite these mesospheric optical emissions [Boccippio et al, 1995]. The complete nature of these strong discharges is still not known, as demonstrated by the existence of long-delayed sprites that can initiate more than 100 ms after a return stroke with no clear signature of lightning current in between Reising et al, 1999].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unusually intense continuing current in lightning produces delayed mesospheric breakdown

Cummer

Füllekrug

2001

Geophysical Research Letters

103

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Abstract.Ultra low frequency magnetic field measurements made 500-2000 km from positive lightning discharges show a signature that is consistent with unusually high amplitude cloud-to-ground continuing lightning current. The magnitude of this nearly constant current moment is as large as 60 kA km and can last at half this amplitude for longer than 150 ms, thereby moving 640 C or more (assuming a 7 km vertical channel length) to the ground after the return stroke. This total charge transfer is more than an order of magnitude greater than most previously reported continuing currents in positive discharges. Three cases analyzed show this strong continuing current flows before, during, and after sprites that initiate more than 40 ms after the return stroke.Accounting for this continuing current, quantitative analysis shows that the total vertical lightning charge moment changes are large enough to produce mesospheric electrical breakdown and long-delayed sprites.

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“…Recent ground-based observations of red sprites [Lyons, 1996] show that the sprite tops averaged 77 km, and the sprite bases averaged 50 km. Sprites usually occur above the anvils of large mesoscale convective systems and correlate with strong positive cloud to ground discharges [Boccippio et al, 1995]. Spectral measurements of sprites [Hampton et al, 1996] show that the first positive band of nitrogen predominates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%