"Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges"

Contents.Contributing Authors.Preface. Introduction to the Physics of Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges.-1.1 Rasic Properties of the Atmosphere.-1.2 Risc Theory of Electrical Phenomena Occurring in the Atmosphere.-1.3 The Properties of Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges.-1.4 Introduction to Theoriesand Numerical Modelling of Sprites.-1.5 Conclusions. Acknowledgements. The Meteorology of Transient Luminous an Introduction and Overview.-2.1 Introduction.-2.2 Observations of Convective Phenomena.-2.3 A Brief History of TEE Observations.-2.4 Characteristics of TLE-Parent Lirhthinc and Storms.-2.5 Research Frontiers Acknowledgments. The Microphysical and Electrical Properties of Sprite- Producing Thunderstorms.-3.1 Introduction.-3.2 The Non-Inductive Charging Process in Thunderclouds.-3.3 Cloud Scale Charge Structure Possible with the Non-Inductive Mechanism.-3.4 The Electrical Structure Inside Sprite-Producing Storms in Summer- time.-3.5 The Electrical Structure inside Sprite-Producing Storms in Wintertime.-3.6 Gaps in Knowledge and Future Needs Acknowledgments. Global Thunderstorm Activity.-4.1The Earth's Energy Balance.-4.2 The General Circulation of the Atmosphere.-4.3 Frontal Thunderstorms in Mid-Latitude Regions.- 4.4 Global Observations of Lightning.-4.5 The Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit.-4.6 Future Directions.-Imaging Systems in the Research.-5.1 Introduction to Low Light Imaging.-5.2 The Spritewatch Systems.-5.3 Conclusions. Spacecraft Based Studies of Transient Luminous Events -6.1 Introduction.-6.2 FORMOSAT-2 Satellite and the ISUAL Instrumen.-6.3 Initial Observations with ISUAL 6.4 Summary Acknowledgments. Observations of Sprites From Space at the Nadir: The LSO (Lightning and Sprite Observations) Experiment on Board of the International Space Station.-7.1 Introduction.-7.2 Spectral Differentiation of Sprite and Lightning Emissions.-7.3 Experiment.-7.4 Observations.-7.5 Perspectives. Remote Sensing of the Upper Atmosphereby VLF.-8.1 Ionospheric Conductivity.-8.2 Sources of VLF Electromagnetic (EM) Waves.-8.3 VLF Propagation in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide.-8.4 Relaxation of High-Altitude Ionospheric Modifications.-8.5 Summary. Measurements of Lightning Parameters from Remote Electromagnetic Fields.- 9.1 Background and Motivation.-9.2 Remote Lightning Parameter Measurements.-9.3 Data Analysis Techniques.-9.4 Summary. Location and Electrical Properties of Sprite-Producing Lightning from a single Elf Site.-10.1 Introduction.-10.2 Locating Distant ELF Sources and Quantifying their Electrical Properties.-10.3 Winter TLEs and Associated Electromagnetic Phenomena in Japan.-10.4 Conclusion Acknowledgments. Calibrated Radiance Measurements with an Air-Filled Glow Discharge Tube: Application to Sprites in the Mesosphere.-11.1 Introduction.-11 .2 Methodology 11.3 Optical Spectrum.-11 .4 Radiance Response to Power and Current Density.-11.5 Estimates of Bulk Plasma Conductivity.-11.6 Application to Current Flow in Sprites.-11 7 Conclusion . Acknowledgments Theoretical Modeling of Sprites and Jets.-12.1 Introduction.-12.2 Classification of Breakdown Mechanisms in Air.-12.3 Physical Mechanism and Numerical Modeling of Sprites.-12.4 Physical Mechanism and Numerical Modeling of Blue Jets, Blue Starters and Gigantic Jets.-12.5 Unsolved Problems. Acknowledgements. On the Modeling of Sprites and Sprite Producing Clouds in the Global Electric Circuit.-13.1 Introduction,.-13.2 Time dependent Electric field in the Conducting Atmosphere.-13.3 Modeling of the Lower Positive Charge Layer in the Stratified Region.-13.4 Global Electric Circuit Implications.-13.5 Conclusion and Outlook for Promising Future Work. Acknowledgements. Actual Problems of Thundercloud Electrodynamics.-14. 1 Introduction.-14.2 Electric Field Generation in an Atmospheric Convective Cell.-14.3 Fine Structure of Electric Fields in a Thundercloud.-14.4 Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons during a Thunderstorm.-14.5 Conclusions Acknowledgments. Poster Abstracts.-15.1 Introduction.-15.2 Observations from the Ground.-15.3 Observations from Space.-15.4 Theoretical Modelling. Index