Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electric fields from model lightning discharges in a neutral atmosphere

  • Published:
Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics Aims and scope

Abstract

The electric fields created by lightning discharges in a neutral atmosphere are calculated in the time representation. It is shown that asymmetric strokes containing horizontal currents can generate pronounced pulsed electric fields. A high-power quasistatic field can influence the middle atmosphere together with pulses. The motion of the current wave in a complex-geometry stroke channel can lead to an increase in the number of emitted pulses. At the periphery of the lightning cell, upon the arrival of the pulse, the electric field vector turns upward, to the stroke axis, and sideward. We also expect an increase in atmospheric turbulence due to convection at the frontal part of the cloud. The emerging inhomogeneities of the atmospheric temperature and density can facilitate the onset of plasma processes generated by the electric field of a strong thunderstorm. Since convection and the focusing electric fields are concentrated at the periphery, their joint action can lead to the appearance of circular and prolate luminous formations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. L. Boeck, Vaughan Jr., B. Blakslee, B. Vonnegut, and M. Brook,Geophys. Res. Lett.,19, 99 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. D. D. Sentman and E. M. Westcott,Red Sprites and Blue Jets. Video, Fairbanks, Geophys. Ins. Univ. of Alaska (1994).

  3. D. D. Sentman, E. M. Westcott, D. L. Osborne, D. L. Hampton, and M. J. Heavner,Geophys. Res. Lett.,22, 1205 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. E. M. Westcott, D. D. Sentman, D. L. Osborne, D. L. Hampton, and M. J. Heavner,Geophys. Res. Lett.,22, 1209 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. T. F. Bell, V. P. Pasko, and U. S. Inan,Geophys. Res. Lett.,22, No. 16, 2127 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. D. J. Boccippio, E. R. Williams, W. A. Lyons, I. Baker, and R. Boldi,Science,269, 1088 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. V. P. Pasko, U. S. Inan, Yu. N. Taranenko, and T. F. Bell,Geophys. Res. Lett.,22, 365 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. V. P. Pasko, U. S. Inan, and T. F. Bell,Geophys. Res. Lett.,23, No. 3, 301 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. V. P. Pasko, U. S. Inan, and T. F. Bell, in: Abstracts of URSI GAB, Lille-France, Aug. 28–Sept. 5 (1996), p. 700 (HG2.P15).

  10. U. S. Inan, W. A. Sampson, and Yu. N. Taranenko,Geophys. Res. Lett.,23, No. 2, 133 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. H. L. Rowland, R. F. Fernsler, J. D. Huba, and Bernardt,Geophys. Res. Lett.,22, No. 4, 361 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. W. A. Lyons,Geopys. Res. Lett.,21, 875 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. R. Dowden, J. Brundell, C. Rodger, O. Molchanov, W. Lyons, and T. Nelson,Anten. Prop. Mag.,38, No. 3, 7 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. L. C. Hale, in: Abstracts of XXVth URSI General Assembly, Lille, France, Aug. 28–Sept. 5 (1996), p. 233 (E2.2.14).

  15. M. J. Rycroft,J. Atmos. Terr. Phys.,56, 343 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. E. P. Krider and C. MusserJ. Geophys. Res.,87, 171 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  17. T. Ogawa,J. Geophys. Res.,90, 5951 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. L. C. Hale and M. E. Baginski, “Current to the ionosphere following a lightning stroke,”Nature,329 (1987).

  19. A. V. Gurevich, G. M. Milikh, and R. A. Roussel-Dupre,Phys. Lett. A,165, 463 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. A. I. Sukhorukov,J. Atmos. Terr. Phys.,58, No. 15, 1711 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. A. P. Nikolaenko and M. Hayakawa,Geophys. Res. Lett.,22, No. 22, 3015 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. D. L. Jones,J. Atmos. Terr. Phys.,32, 1077 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Uman,The Lightning Discharge, Academic Press, New York-Boston-London-Tokyo (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  24. T. Ogawa, in:Handbook of Atmospheric Electrodynamics. Vol. 1. Atmospheric Electricity (H. Volland, ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton,-London-Tokyo (1995), p. 93.

    Google Scholar 

  25. E. P. Krider, in:The Earth's Electrical Environment, Natl. Academy Press, Washington DC (1986), p. 30.

    Google Scholar 

  26. E. P. Krider and C. Guo,J. Geophys. Res.,88, 8471 (1983).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. R. H. Holzworth, M. C. Kelley, C. L. Siefring, L. C. Hale, and J. D. Mitchell,J. Geophys. Res.,90, 9824 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. A. I. Sukhorukov, E. A. Rudenchik, and P. Stubbe, in: Abstracts of URSI GA, Lille, France, Aug. 28–Sept. 5 (1996), p. 692 (HG2.P8).

  29. J. Galejs,IRE Trans., AP,QA-9, 554 (1961).

    ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  30. C. Greifinger and P. Greifinger,Radio Sci.,13, 831 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. P. V. Bliokh, A. P. Nickolaenko, and Yu. F. Filippov, in:Schumann Resonances in the Earth-Ionosphere Cavity (D. L. Jones, ed.), Peter Perigrinus, Oxford-New York-Paris (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  32. A. P. Nickolaenko and L. M. Rabinowicz,Space Research [in Russian],20, No. 1, 82 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  33. D. D. Sentman, in:Handbook of Atmospheric Electrodynamics. Vol. 1. Atmospheric Electricity (H. Volland, ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton-London-Tokyo (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  34. M. E. Baginski and G. W. Jr. Jarriel,J. Electrostat.,33, 87 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Y. N. Taranenko, U. S. Inan, and T. F. Bell,Geophys. Res. Lett.,20, 1539 (1993).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. A. P. Nikolaenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Hayakawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics of the National Academy of Sciences, Khar’kov, Ukraine; The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, Japan. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 41, No. 6, pp. 699–722, June, 1998.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nikolaenko, A.P., Hayakawa, M. Electric fields from model lightning discharges in a neutral atmosphere. Radiophys Quantum Electron 41, 469–484 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02676680

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02676680

Keywords

Search

Navigation