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Morrill et al. 2002

Morrill, J., Bucsela, E., Siefring, C., Heavner, M., Berg, S., Moudry, D., Slinker, S., Fernsler, R., Wescott, E., Sentman, D. and Osborne, D. (2002). Electron energy and electric field estimates in sprites derived from ionized and neutral N₂ emissions. Geophysical Research Letters 29: doi: 10.1029/2001GL014018. issn: 0094-8276.

During the EXL98 aircraft mission, sprites and blue jets were observed by narrow band cameras that measure the N2+ 1NG (0,1) band at 4278¿ and the N2 2PG (0,0) band at 3370¿. 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.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

	Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Middle atmosphere--energy deposition, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Atmospheric electricity, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Lightning, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/

Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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