Space shuttle observation of an unusual transient atmospheric emission

doi:doi:10.1029/2004GL021551

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 32, L02801, 4 PP., 2005
doi:10.1029/2004GL021551

Space shuttle observation of an unusual transient atmospheric emission

Yoav Yair

Department of Natural Sciences, Open University, Ra'anana, Israel

Colin Price

Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Baruch Ziv

Department of Natural Sciences, Open University, Ra'anana, Israel

Peter L. Israelevich

Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Davis D. Sentman

Physics Department, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

Fernanda T. São-Sabbas

Aeronomy Division, National Institute of Space Research (INPE), São-José Dos Campos, Brazil

Adam D. Devir

Department of Natural Sciences, Open University, Ra'anana, Israel

Mitsuteru Sato

RIKEN, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Wako, Japan

Craig J. Rodger

Department of Physics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Meir Moalem

Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Eran Greenberg

Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Ofer Yaron

Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

We report an observation of an unusual transient luminous event (TLE) detected in the near IR, south of Madagascar above the Indian Ocean. The event was imaged from the space shuttle Columbia during the MEIDEX sprite campaign [ Yair et al., 2004 ]. It was delayed 0.23 seconds from a preceding visual lightning flash which was horizontally displaced >1000 km from the event. The calculated brightness in the 860 (±50) nm filter was ∼310 ± 30 kR, and the morphology of the emitting volume did not resemble any known class of TLE (i.e., sprites, ELVES or halos). This TIGER event (Transient Ionospheric Glow Emission in Red) may constitute a new class of TLE, not necessarily induced by a near-by thunderstorm. We discuss possible generation mechanisms, including the conjugate sprite hypothesis caused by lightning at the magnetic mirror point, lightning-induced electron precipitation and an extraterrestrial source, meteoric or cometary.

Received 17 September 2004; accepted 10 December 2004; published 18 January 2005.

Citation: Yair, Y., et al. (2005), Space shuttle observation of an unusual transient atmospheric emission, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L02801, doi:10.1029/2004GL021551.

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