Electron acceleration above thunderclouds

0398719 - ÚFA 2014 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Füllekrug, M. - Kolmašová, Ivana - Santolík, Ondřej - Farges, T. - Bór, J. - Bennett, A. - Parrot, M. - Rison, W. - Zanotti, F. - Arnone, E. - Mezentsev, A. - Lán, Radek - Uhlíř, Luděk - Harrison, G. - Soula, S. - van der Velde, O. - Pincon, J. L. - Helling, C. - Diver, D.
Electron acceleration above thunderclouds.
Environmental Research Letters. Roč. 8, č. 3 (2013), 035027/1-035027/6. ISSN 1748-9326. E-ISSN 1748-9326
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA205/09/1253
Grant - others:Rada Programu interní podpory projektů mezinárodní spolupráce AV ČR(CZ) M100421206
Institutional support: RVO:68378289
Keywords : atmospheric electricity * lightning * electromagnetic wave propagation * storms
Subject RIV: BL - Plasma and Gas Discharge Physics
Impact factor: 4.090, year: 2013
http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/8/3/035027/pdf/1748-9326_8_3_035027.pdf

The acceleration of electrons results in observable electromagnetic waves which can be used for remote sensing. Here, we make use of similar to 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.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0226142