Abstract
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH,
VOL. 116,
A12329,
16 PP., 2011
doi:10.1029/2011JA016928
The properties of a gigantic jet reflected in a simultaneous sprite: Observations interpreted by a model
- For the first time: use sprite to detect properties of a jet
- Confirmation of leader/streamer nature of giants
- First model of a giant
Division for Solar System Physics, National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
Division for Solar System Physics, National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
Istituto di Scienze dell'Atmosfera e del Clima, CNR, Bologna, Italy
Italian Meteor and TLE Network, Bologna, Italy
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
Centre for Space, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK
Observatoire Mid-Pyrénées, Laboratoire d'Aérologie, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
Electrical Engineering Department, Technical University of Catalonia, Terrassa, Spain
Thunderstorm clouds may discharge directly to the ionosphere in spectacular luminous jets – the largest electric discharges of our planet. The properties of these “giants,” such as their polarity, conductivity, and currents, have been predicted by models, but are poorly characterized by measurements. A recent observation of a giant, fortuitously illuminated by an unusual sprite discharge in the mesosphere, allows us to study their electric properties and effects on the atmosphere-ionosphere. We show from a first-principles model of the combined giant and sprite event that the observations are consistent with the nature of the giant being a leader in the stratosphere of line charge density ∼0.8 mCm−1 and of multiple streamers in the mesosphere. It is further shown that the giant modifies the free electron content of the lower ionosphere because of electric field-driven ionization, electron attachment and detachment processes. This is the first time that sprites are used for sounding the properties of the mesosphere. The results presented here will allow evaluation of theories for jet and gigantic jets and of their influence on the atmosphere and ionosphere.
Received 13 June 2011; accepted 28 September 2011; published 30 December 2011.
Citation: (2011), The properties of a gigantic jet reflected in a simultaneous sprite: Observations interpreted by a model, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A12329, doi:10.1029/2011JA016928.
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