Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10703867 | Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics | 2005 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
The occurrence of sprite halos has been found almost solely in association with cloud-to-ground lightning flashes due to the release of positive charges (Miyasato et al., Geophysical Research Letters 29(21), 2033). Here, a numerical simulation method is used to study the positive charges producing sprite halos. A particle model, combined with the quasi-electrostatic (QE) model, is used to take account of the positive charges centered at two altitudes of 5 and 10Â km. The altitude of 10Â km is a typical position of positive charge in thunderstorm convective regions. The choice of an altitude of 5Â km is based on observations for the positive sprite-producing charges, which are located at the altitude range of 4-7Â km. Results show that sprite halos can be produced by positive charges at both altitudes. The region where sprite halos occur is determined mostly by the values of the released positive charges, which is in good agreement with the previous observations. The variation of the region of positive charges is approximately equivalent to the variation of the value of positive charge. The time when positive charge is released determines the intensity of optical emission from a sprite halo. Typically, the positive charge of 100 or 200Â C released at an altitude of 10 or 5Â km, respectively, within a time of 0.6Â ms will produce a sprite halo with a maximum optical intensity of â¼1Ã107Â R. The estimated threshold of positive charges at which sprite halos are produced is consistent with the value estimated from the observed sprite halos.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Geophysics
Authors
Lizhu Tong, Yasutaka Hiraki, Kenichi Nanbu, Hiroshi Fukunishi,