Multispectral Optical Diagnostics of Lightning from Space (original) (raw)
Related papers
Journal of Geophysical Research, 2002
1] Lightning type identification of temporally coincident optical-VHF time series event pairs collected by the Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) satellite's photodiode detector (PDD) and VHF instrument allows for the investigation of optical properties as a function of lightning type. General trends in the peak optical irradiance and characteristic pulse widths of PDD-VHF coincident events are studied as a function of lightning type, using previously established techniques to identify lightning type based on VHF spectogram-power time series. While lightning type cannot be identified from optical data alone, there are several notable features in the optical record. The distribution of observed characteristic widths of PDD events has a cutoff near 200 ms, which represents a lower limit on the combination of intrinsic optical emission time and pulse broadening due to photon scattering in the intervening clouds. Events with the highest peak optical irradiances observed at FORTE are typically positive initial return strokes. Also, the median value of peak optical irradiance for cloud-to-ground lightning events is more than double that for in-cloud lightning. Citation: Davis, S. M., D. M. Suszcynsky, and T. E. L. Light, FORTE observations of optical emissions from lightning: Optical properties and discrimination capability,
Spectral Irradiance Measurements of Simulated Lightning in Planetary Atmospheres
Icarus
Measurements of the spectral irradiance from approximately 380 to 820 nm are reported for laboratory simulations of lightning in the atmospheres of Venus, Jupiter, and Titan. The observations were made at 1 and 5 bars of pressure for Venus and Jupiter and at 1 bar for the Titan mixture. The spectra were obtained by observing laser-induced plasmas with a scanning spectrometer and an optical multichannel analyzer. Simulations of lightning show that atomic line and continuum radiation dominate the spectra. Weak molecular band radiation from CN was also observed for Venus and Titan. As the ambient pressure was increased from 1 to 5 bars, the prominence of the line radiation diminishes compared to the continuum radiation, some lines disappear, and the intensity of the molecular band radiation increases. Laboratory results for the venusian lightning spectrum are consistent with those found by the Venera 9 spectrometer when it viewed a storm on the nightside of Venus. For both Jupiter and ...
Observations of lightning in the stratosphere
Journal of Geophysical Research, 1995
An examination and analysis of video images of lightning, captured by the payload bay TV cameras of the space shuttle, provided a variety of examples of lightning in the stratosphere above thunderstorms. These images were obtained on several recent shuttle flights while conducting the Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE). The images of stratospheric lightning illustrate the variety of filamentary and broad vertical discharges in the stratosphere that may accompany a lightning flash. A typical event is imaged as a single or multiple filament extending 30 to 40 km above a thunderstorm that is illuminated by a series of lightning strokes. Examples are found in temperate and tropical areas, over the oceans, and over the land. 1465 ning. These include the detection of gamma-ray burst of atmospheric origin [Fishman et al., 1994], lightning-induced brightening of the airglow layer [Boeck et al., 1992], and unusual tran-ionospheric pulse pair radio signals detected by the Blackbeard experiment on the ALEXIS satellite [Holden et al.,
Chapter 13: Space- and Ground-Based Studies of Lightning Signatures
2009
This article provides a brief survey of the space-and ground-based studies of lightning performed by investigators at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The primary goal of these studies was to further understand unique lightning signatures known as Narrow Bipolar Events (NBEs). First, an overview is presented of the Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) satellite and of the ground-based Los Alamos Sferic Array (LASA). This is followed by a summary of the phenomenology, physics, and meteorological context of NBEs and NBE-related discharges. This article also discusses additional radio frequency and optical observations of lightning made by the FORTE satellite and concludes with an outlook on LANL's growing interest in the use of lightning observations in the study of severe weather and hurricane intensification.
Lightning induced optical emissions in the ionosphere
Space science reviews, 2003
A discussion of lightning induced optical emissions in the ionosphere is presented. Emphasis is placed on accounting for the puzzling observation of the spatial structure in the optical emissions and the Sprite 'seeding' before the development of the 'tendrils' (or streamers). In this context we discuss the generation of spatial brightness variations, within the required lightning parameter thresholds, due to spatio-temporal electric fields and spatial neutral density perturbations.
Journal of Geophysical Research, 2008
Abstract[1] Transient luminous events above thunderstorms such as sprites, halos, and elves require large electric fields in the lower ionosphere. Yet very few in situ measurements in this region have been successfully accomplished, since it is typically too low in altitude for rockets and satellites and too high for balloons. In this article, we present some rare examples of lightning-driven electric field changes obtained at 75–130 km altitude during a sounding rocket flight from Wallops Island, Virginia, in 1995. We summarize these electric field changes and present a few detailed case studies. Our measurements are compared directly to a 2D numerical model of lightning-driven electromagnetic fields in the middle and upper atmosphere. We find that the in situ electric field changes are smaller than predicted by the model, and the amplitudes of these fields are insufficient for elve production when extrapolated to a 100 kA peak current stroke. This disagreement could be due to lightning-induced ionospheric conductivity enhancement, or it might be evidence of flaws in the electromagnetic pulse mechanism for elves.
Ultraviolet and infrared emission from lightning discharges observed at Aragats
2016
The ultraviolet and infrared optical sensors previously used at RELEC space missions were installed at the highaltitude research station Aragats at 3200 m above the sea level. The spectral composition and temporal structure of the recorded optical signals and measurements of the electrostatic field and atmospheric discharges obtained by “fast” and “slow” field sensors have been compared. Measurements of lightning and related to them phenomena observed at the mountain altitude and on board of orbiting satellites are compared.
Spectra of simulated lightning on Venus, Jupiter, and Titan
Icarus, 1985
Laser-induced plasmas in various gas mixtures were used to simulate lightning in other planetary atmospheres. This method of simulation has the advantage of producing short-duration, high-temperature plasmas free from electrode contamination. The laser-induced plasma discharges in air are shown to accurately simulate terrestrial lightning and can be expected to simulate lightning spectra in other planetary atmospheres. Spectra from 240 to 880 nm are presented for simulated lightning in the atmospheres of Venus, earth, Jupiter, and Titan. The spectra of lightning on the other giant planets are expected to be similar to that of Jupiter because the atmospheres of these planets are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. The spectra of Venus and Titan show substantial amounts of radiation due to the presence of carbon atoms and ions and show CN Violet radiation. Although small amounts of CH4 and NH3 are present in the Jovian atmosphere, only emission from hydrogen and helium is observed. Most differences in the spectra can be understood in terms of the elemental ratios of the gas mixtures. Consequently, observations of the spectra of lightning on other planets should provide in situ estimates of the atmospheric and aerosol composition in the cloud layers in which lightning is occurring. In particular, the detection of inert gases such as helium should be possible and the relative abundance of these gases compared to major constituents might be determined.
FORTE observations of simultaneous VHF and optical emissions from lightning: Basic phenomenology
Journal of Geophysical Research, 2000
Preliminary observations of simultaneous VHF and optical emissions from lightning as seen by the Fast on-Orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) spacecraft are presented. VHF/optical waveform pairs are routinely collected both as individual lightning events and as sequences of events associated with cloud-to-ground (CG) and intracloud (IC) flashes. CG pulses can be distinguished from IC pulses on the basis of the properties of the VHF and optical waveforms but mostly on the basis of the associated VHF spectrograms. The VHF spectrograms are very similar to previous ground-based HF and VHF observations of lightning and show signatures associated with return strokes, stepped and dart leaders, attachment processes, and intracloud activity. For a typical IC flash, the FORTE-detected VHF is generally characterized by impulsive broadband bursts of emission, and the associated optical emissions are often highly structured. For a typical initial return stroke, the FORTE-detected VHF is generated by the stepped leader, the attachment process, and the actual return stroke. For a typical subsequent return stroke, the FORTE-detected VHF is mainly generated by dart leader processes. The detected optical signal in both return stroke cases is primarily produced by the in-cloud portion of the discharge and lags the arrival of the corresponding VHF emissions at the satellite by a mean value of 243 s. This delay is composed of a transit time delay (mean of 105 s) as the return stroke current propagates from the attachment point up into the region of in-cloud activity plus an additional delay due to the scattering of light during its traversal through the clouds. The broadening of the light pulse during its propagation through the clouds is measured and used to infer a mean of this scattering delay of about 138 s (41 km additional path length) for CG light. This value for the mean scattering delay is consistent with the Thomason and Krider [1982] model for light propagation through clouds.
Optical signatures of lightning-induced electron precipitation
Journal of Geophysical Research, 2011
1] Model calculations are conducted to estimate the optical emission brightness caused by lightning-induced electron precipitation. Pitch angle scattering of energetic radiation belt electrons by lightning-generated whistler mode waves results in precipitation in the upper atmosphere. Assuming a lightning peak current and location, plasmasphere distribution, and radiation belt density and pitch angle distributions, we calculate the secondary ionization production and optical emissions in a number of lines and bands. We find that the brightness in N 2 1P and O( 1 S) may reach a few to 10 R for a 100 kA peak current discharge, with a distinct spatial and temporal signature of 1-2 s. A simple signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) calculation shows that this signature should be detectable with modern photometric instruments with an SNR ∼4. We further investigate the dependence of this brightness on lightning source latitude and peak current.