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1997 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Lightning Induced Optical Emissions in the Middle Atmosphere

Research Project

Project/Area Number 08044053
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
SectionJoint Research
Research Field Space and upper atmospheric physics
Research InstitutionTohoku University

Principal Investigator

WATANABE Shigeto  Tohoku University, Department of Geophysics, Associate Professor, 大学院・理学研究科, 助教授 (90271577)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) YUMOTO Kiyofumi  Kyushu University, Department of Science, Professor, 理学部, 教授 (20125686)
TAKAHASHI Yukihiro  Tohoku University, Department of Geophysics, Assistant Professor, 大学院・理学研究科, 助手 (50236329)
FUKUNISHI Hiroshi  Tohoku University, Department of Geophysics, Professor, 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (90099937)
LYONS W.A.  ASTeR Institute, Senior Scientist, 研究員
INAN U.S.  Stanford University, STAR Institute, Professor, STAR研究所, 教授
Project Period (FY) 1996 – 1997
Keywordsthunderstorm / stratosphere / mesosphere / lower ionosphere / sprites / blue jets / elves
Research Abstract

Observations of optical phenomena at high altitude above thunderstorms using a multichannel high-speed photometer and image intensified CCD cameras were carried out at Yucca Ridge Station (40゜40'N, 104゜59'W), Colorado. The new measurements indicate that diffuse optical flashes with a duration of <1ms and a horizontal scale of 〜100-300km occur at 75-105km altitude in the lower ionosphere just after the onset of sprites. Here we designate these events as "elves" to distinguish them from "red sprites". This finding is consistent with the production of diffuse optical emissions due to the heating of the lower ionosphere by electromagnetic pulses generated by lightning discharges.
Optical and search coil magnetometer data were obtained from the SPRITES'96 campaign carried out at Yucca Ridge Field Station, Colorado in July 1996. We have presented clear evidence for the excitation of ULF transients with their dominant power at 1-2 Hz by strong lightning discharges producing elves and sprites without preceding elves and the case of sprites with preceding elves. In the former case, damped quasi-sinusoidal oscillations commence impulsively at the onset of sprites, while in the latter case quasi-sinusoidal wavelets with a duration of 〜3 s are excited, and elves and sprites occur within each wavelet. It is lucky that these ULF transients are due to the nonlinear excitation of the ionospheric Alfven resonator by strong lightning discharge.

  • Research Products

    (10 results)

All Other

All Publications (10 results)

  • [Publications] 福西 浩: "Elves : Lightning-induced transient luminous events in the lower ionosphere"Geophys. Res. Lett.. 23・16. 2157-2160 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 福西 浩: "Ground-based observations of ULF transients excited by strong lightning discharges producing elves and sprites"Geophys. Res. Lett.. 24・23. 2973-2976 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 高橋 幸弘: "Temporal and spatial variations in the intensity ratio of N_2 1st and 2nd positive bands in sprites"Adv. Space Res.. (Accepted). (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 福西 浩: "雷放電に伴う高高度の発光現象"気象. 40・12. 14652-14657 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 福西 浩: "雷雲上方の放電現象の発見"科学 (岩波書店). 67・9. 671-678 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Fukunishi Hiroshi: "Elves : Lightning-induced transient luminous events in the lower ionosphere"Geophys. Res. Lett.. 23-16. 2157-2160 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Fukunishi Hiroshi: "Ground-based observations of ULF transients excited by strong lightning discharges producing elves and sprites"Geophys. Res. Lett.. 24-23. 2973-2976 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Takahashi Yukihiro: "Temporal and spatial variations in the intensity ratio of NィイD22ィエD2 1st and 2nd positive bands in sprites"Adv. Space Res.. (Accepted). (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Fukunishi Hiroshi: "Lightning-induced transient luminous events in the lower ionosphere"Kisyou. 40-12. 14652-14657 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Fukunishi Hiroshi: "Discovery of lightning discharge at high altitudes above thunderstorm"Kagaku. 67-9. 671-678 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2001-10-23  

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