REAL

Multi-instrumental analysis of large sprite events and their producing storm in southern France

Soula, S. and Iacovella, F. and van der Velde, O. and Montanyà, J. and Füllekrug, M. and Bór, József (2014) Multi-instrumental analysis of large sprite events and their producing storm in southern France. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH, 135-13. pp. 415-431. ISSN 0169-8095

[img]
Preview
Text
Soula_et_al_2014_article_large_sprites_third_version.pdf

Download (6MB) | Preview

Abstract

During the night of 01-02 September, 2009, seventeen distinct sprite events including 3 halos were observed above a storm in north-western Mediterranean Sea, with a video camera at Pic du Midi (42.93N; 0.14E; 2877m). The sprites occurred at distances between 280 and 390km which are estimated based on their parent CG location. The MCS-type storm was characterized by a trailing-stratiform structure and a very circular shape with a size of about 70,000km2 (cloud top temperature lower than -35°C) when the TLEs were observed. The cloud to ground (CG) flash rate was large (45min-1) one hour before the TLE observation and very low (<5min-1) during it. Out of the 17 sprite events, 15 parent+CG (P+CG) strokes have been identified and their average peak current is 87kA (67kA for the 14 events without halo), while the associated charge moment changes (CMC) that could be determined, range from 424 to 2088±20%Ckm. Several 2-second videos contain multiple sprite events: one with four events, one with three events and three with two events. Column and carrot type sprites are identified, either together or separately. All P+CG strokes are clearly located within the stratiform region of the storm and the second P+CG stroke of a multiple event is back within the stratiform region. Groups of large and bright carrots reach ~70km height and ~80km horizontal extent. These groups are associated with a second pulse of electric field radiation in the ELF range which occurs ~5ms after the P+CG stroke and exhibits the same polarity, which is evidence for current in the sprite body. VLF perturbations associated with the sprite events were recorded with a station in Algiers. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Daucus carota; Mediterranean Sea; France; solar radiation; electric field; cloud to ground lightning; Storms; THUNDERSTORMS; Electric fields; North-western mediterranean seas; Multiple events; Field radiation; Cloud-top temperatures; Circular shape; Charge Moment Change; TLEs; THUNDERSTORM; SPRITES; lightning; ELF radiations
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QE Geology / földtudományok
SWORD Depositor: MTMT SWORD
Depositing User: MTMT SWORD
Date Deposited: 22 Jan 2015 10:04
Last Modified: 31 Jan 2016 00:15
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/20741

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item