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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,
VOL. 29,
1462,
4 PP., 2002
doi:10.1029/2001GL014018
Electron energy and electric field estimates in sprites derived from ionized and neutral N2 emissions
E. O Hulburt Center for Space Research, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA.
Goddard Earth Science and Technology Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, USA.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
Computational Physics Inc., Springfield, VA, USA.
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AL, USA.
Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, USA.
Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, USA.
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AL, USA.
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AL, USA.
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AL, USA.
During the EXL98 aircraft mission, sprites and blue jets were observed by narrow band cameras that measure the N2+ 1NG (0,1) band at 4278Å and the N2 2PG (0,0) band at 3370Å. We discuss the observations (∼1km resolution), instrumental and atmospheric corrections, and altitude profiles of ionized (1NG) and neutral (2PG) emission observed during a specific sprite. The ratio of ionized-to-neutral emission indicates a relative enhancement of ion emission below 55km. Characteristic electron energies (ECh) and electric fields (E) are derived from these emission ratios using excitation rates computed from a model that solves the Boltzmann equation as a function of electric field. Up to 55km E follows the breakdown field (Ek) and ECh is ∼2.2eV. Above 55km E drops below Ek and ECh drops to ∼1.75eV near 60km.
Published 28 May 2002.
Citation: (2002), Electron energy and electric field estimates in sprites derived from ionized and neutral N2 emissions, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(10), 1462, doi:10.1029/2001GL014018.
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