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Detailed Reference Information |
Marshall, R.A. and Inan, U.S. (2007). Possible direct cloud-to-ionosphere current evidenced by sprite-initiated secondary TLEs. Geophysical Research Letters 34: doi: 10.1029/2006GL028511. issn: 0094-8276. |
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Video-rate images of sprites observed from Langmuir Laboratory show slow, upward discharges from the cloud to the mesosphere following the sprite discharge. A single high-time-resolution (1000 fps) measurement of the tip of the upward discharge shows that it terminates at the base of the preceding sprite and persists for a total of ~50 ms, compared to the sprite lifetime of ~6 ms. Photometer data show that these events are likely to be predominantly blue. We propose a mechanism by which, in conjunction with intra-cloud activity following the causative CG discharge, charge is moved within the sprite body from the ionosphere to the lower altitude edge of the sprite at ~50 km; this transfer of charge lowers the upper capacitive plate, whereupon a second breakdown is facilitated between the cloud-top and this charged plate, inducing electrical current between the cloud and the mesosphere and initiating the observed luminous discharges. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Atmospheric Processes, Atmospheric electricity, Atmospheric Processes, Mesospheric dynamics, Ionosphere, Ionosphere/atmosphere interactions |
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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 |
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