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Recent results from studies of electric discharges in the mesosphere

dc.contributor.authorNeubert, T.
dc.contributor.authorRycroft, M.
dc.contributor.authorFarges, T.
dc.contributor.authorBlanc, E.
dc.contributor.authorChanrion, O.
dc.contributor.authorArnone, E.
dc.contributor.authorOdzimek, A.
dc.contributor.authorArnold, N.
dc.contributor.authorEnell, C.-F.
dc.contributor.authorTurunen, E.
dc.contributor.authorBösinger, T.
dc.contributor.authorMika, Á.
dc.contributor.authorHaldoupis, C.
dc.contributor.authorSteiner, R.J.
dc.contributor.authorVan der Velde, O.
dc.contributor.authorSoula, S.
dc.contributor.authorBerg, P.
dc.contributor.authorBoberg, F.
dc.contributor.authorThejll, P.
dc.contributor.authorChristiansen, B.
dc.contributor.authorIgnaccolo, M.
dc.contributor.authorFüllekrug, M.
dc.contributor.authorVerronen, P.T.
dc.contributor.authorMontanya, J.
dc.contributor.authorCrosby, N.
dc.date2008
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-21T11:43:37Z
dc.date.available2016-09-21T11:43:37Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/4345
dc.descriptionThe paper reviews recent advances in studies of electric discharges in the stratosphere and mesosphere above thunderstorms, and their effects on the atmosphere. The primary focus is on the sprite discharge occurring in the mesosphere, which is the most commonly observed high altitude discharge by imaging cameras from the ground, but effects on the upper atmosphere by electromagnetic radiation from lightning are also considered. During the past few years, co-ordinated observations over Southern Europe have been made of a wide range of parameters related to sprites and their causative thunderstorms. Observations have been complemented by the modelling of processes ranging from the electric discharge to perturbations of trace gas concentrations in the upper atmosphere. Observations point to significant energy deposition by sprites in the neutral atmosphere as observed by infrasound waves detected at up to 1000 km distance, whereas elves and lightning have been shown significantly to affect ionization and heating of the lower ionosphere/mesosphere. Studies of the thunderstorm systems powering high altitude discharges show the important role of intracloud (IC) lightning in sprite generation as seen by the first simultaneous observations of IC activity, sprite activity and broadband, electromagnetic radiation in the VLF range. Simulations of sprite ignition suggest that, under certain conditions, energetic electrons in the runaway regime are generated in streamer discharges. Such electrons may be the source of X- and Gamma-rays observed in lightning, thunderstorms and the so-called Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) observed from space over thunderstorm regions. Model estimates of sprite perturbations to the global atmospheric electric circuit, trace gas concentrations and atmospheric dynamics suggest significant local perturbations, and possibly significant meso-scale effects, but negligible global effects.
dc.languageeng
dc.titleRecent results from studies of electric discharges in the mesosphere
dc.typeArticle
dc.subject.frascatiPhysical sciences
dc.audienceScientific
dc.subject.freeAtmospheric radiation
dc.subject.freeAtmospherics
dc.subject.freeAtoms
dc.subject.freeCircuit simulation
dc.subject.freeDischarge (fluid mechanics)
dc.subject.freeElectric breakdown of gases
dc.subject.freeElectric network analysis
dc.subject.freeElectromagnetic wave emission
dc.subject.freeElectromagnetic waves
dc.subject.freeElectron optics
dc.subject.freeElectrostatics
dc.subject.freeGamma rays
dc.subject.freeHeating
dc.subject.freeIonization of gases
dc.subject.freeLightning
dc.subject.freeMetal analysis
dc.subject.freeNetworks (circuits)
dc.subject.freePerturbation techniques
dc.subject.freeRadiation effects
dc.subject.freeStorms
dc.subject.freeSulfur compounds
dc.subject.freeThunderstorms
dc.subject.freeUpper atmosphere
dc.subject.freeAtmospheric dynamics
dc.subject.freeElectromagnetic radiations
dc.subject.freeEnergetic electrons
dc.subject.freeEnergy depositions
dc.subject.freeGamma-ray
dc.subject.freeGlobal atmospheric electric circuits
dc.subject.freeGlobal effects
dc.subject.freeHigh altitudes
dc.subject.freeImaging cameras
dc.subject.freeInfrasound
dc.subject.freeIntracloud
dc.subject.freeLocal perturbations
dc.subject.freeMesosphere
dc.subject.freeModel estimates
dc.subject.freeModelling of processes
dc.subject.freeNeutral atmospheres
dc.subject.freeRanging
dc.subject.freeScale effects
dc.subject.freeSimultaneous observations
dc.subject.freeSouthern Europe
dc.subject.freeSprite generations
dc.subject.freeSprites
dc.subject.freeStreamer discharges
dc.subject.freeThunderstorm regions
dc.subject.freeTrace gasses
dc.subject.freeElectric discharges
dc.subject.freeatmospheric dynamics
dc.subject.freeatmospheric electricity
dc.subject.freecloud to ground lightning
dc.subject.freeelectromagnetic radiation
dc.subject.freemesosphere
dc.subject.freemodeling
dc.subject.freesprite
dc.subject.freestratosphere
dc.subject.freethunderstorm
dc.subject.freeEurasia
dc.subject.freeEurope
dc.subject.freeSouthern Europe
dc.source.titleSurveys in Geophysics
dc.source.volume29
dc.source.issue2
dc.source.page71-137
Orfeo.peerreviewedYes
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10712-008-9043-1
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-54949145312


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