EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Stanley et al. 2006
Stanley, M.A., Shao, X., Smith, D.M., Lopez, L.I., Pongratz, M.B., Harlin, J.D., Stock, M. and Regan, A. (2006). A link between terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and intracloud lightning discharges. Geophysical Research Letters 33: doi: 10.1029/2005GL025537. issn: 0094-8276.

Atmospheric electric field change (sferic) waveforms were detected at Los Alamos Sferic Array stations in association with terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs). Five TGF sferic waveforms detected at sufficiently close range were all found to be consistent with a positive-polarity intracloud (+IC) discharge process which transported electrons upward. The amplitudes of the events were among the top 5% of IC discharge flashes. Altitudes obtained from ionosphere reflections for two of the closer events were found to be 13.6 km and 11.5 km. These altitudes are lower than expected if one assumes that the sferic was near the source of the gamma-rays. One of the sferics was an energetic narrow bipolar event which occurred near the inferred onset of a flash, suggesting that the preceding TGF may correspond to the actual onset.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Ionosphere, Particle acceleration, Atmospheric Processes, Lightning, Atmospheric Processes, Atmospheric electricity, Radio Science, Ionospheric propagation (0689, 2487, 3285, 4275, 4455), Radio Science, Radio wave propagation
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit