TY - GEN
T1 - Mechanisms of sprite initiation, morphology, and lightning polarity asymmetry
AU - Qin, Jianqi
AU - Celestin, Sebastien
AU - Pasko, Victor P.
AU - Cummer, Steven A.
AU - McHarg, Matthew G.
AU - Stenbaek-Nielsen, Hans C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 IEEE.
PY - 2014/10/17
Y1 - 2014/10/17
N2 - Sprites are spectacular optical emissions in the mesosphere induced by transient lightning electric fields above thunderstorms. Recently, significant efforts have been devoted to the understanding of the inception mechanism of sprite streamers, the origin of different sprite morphologies, and the lightning polarity asymmetry in producing sprites. In this paper, we present a combination of observational and modeling results explaining the physical parameters and processes that are important for the resolution of these outstanding issues. We first emphasize the presence of plasma inhomogeneities in the lower ionosphere as a necessary condition for the initiation of sprite streamers. Then we explain the relation between sprite morphology and the characteristics of the causative lightning discharges using plasma fluid modeling results in comparison with optical and radio observations. Finally, we discuss the critical factors that account for the lightning polarity asymmetry in producing sprites.
AB - Sprites are spectacular optical emissions in the mesosphere induced by transient lightning electric fields above thunderstorms. Recently, significant efforts have been devoted to the understanding of the inception mechanism of sprite streamers, the origin of different sprite morphologies, and the lightning polarity asymmetry in producing sprites. In this paper, we present a combination of observational and modeling results explaining the physical parameters and processes that are important for the resolution of these outstanding issues. We first emphasize the presence of plasma inhomogeneities in the lower ionosphere as a necessary condition for the initiation of sprite streamers. Then we explain the relation between sprite morphology and the characteristics of the causative lightning discharges using plasma fluid modeling results in comparison with optical and radio observations. Finally, we discuss the critical factors that account for the lightning polarity asymmetry in producing sprites.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919742805&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84919742805&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/URSIGASS.2014.6929972
DO - 10.1109/URSIGASS.2014.6929972
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84919742805
T3 - 2014 31th URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, URSI GASS 2014
BT - 2014 31th URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, URSI GASS 2014
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 31st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of the International Union of Radio Science, URSI GASS 2014
Y2 - 16 August 2014 through 23 August 2014
ER -