Electron acceleration above thunderclouds

Füllekrug, M. et al. (2013) Electron acceleration above thunderclouds. Environmental Research Letters, 8(3), 035027. (doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035027)

Abstract

The acceleration of electrons results in observable electromagnetic waves which can be used for remote sensing. Here, we make use of ~4 Hz–66 MHz radio waves emitted by two consecutive intense positive lightning discharges to investigate their impact on the atmosphere above a thundercloud. It is found that the first positive lightning discharge initiates a sprite where electrons are accelerated during the exponential growth and branching of the sprite streamers. This preconditioned plasma above the thundercloud is subsequently exposed to a second positive lightning discharge associated with a bouncing-wave discharge. This discharge process causes a re-brightening of the existing sprite streamers above the thundercloud and initiates a subsequent relativistic electron beam.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Diver, Professor Declan
• Authors: Füllekrug, M., Kolmasova, I., Santolik, O., Farges, T., Bór, J., Bennett, A., Parrot, M., Rison, W., Zanotti, F., Arnone, E., Mezentsev, A., Lan, R., Uhlir, L., Harrison, G., Soula, S., van der Velde, O., Pinçon, J.-L., Helling, C., and Diver, D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Environmental Research Letters
• Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
• ISSN: 1748-9326
• ISSN (Online): 1748-9326
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Environmental Research Letters 8(3):035027
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License