Abstract
We review radio detection of planetary lightning performed by Voyager, Galileo (including in-situ probe measurements), Cassini, and other spacecraft, and compare the information on the underlying physics derived from these observations—especially the discharge duration, at Jupiter and Saturn—with our knowledge of terrestrial lightning. The controversial evidence at Venus is discussed, as well as the prospects for lightning-like discharges in Martian dust-storms (and studies on terrestrial analogues). In addition, lightning sources provide radio beacons that allow us to probe planetary ionospheres. Ground-based observations of Saturn’s lightning have been attempted several times in the past and have been recently successful. They will be the subject of observations by the new generation of giant radio arrays. We review past results and future studies, focussing on the detection challenges and on the interest of ground-based radio monitoring, in conjunction with spacecraft observations or in standalone mode.
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Abbreviations
- e.m.:
-
electromagnetic (waves)
- f :
-
radio frequency
- f cutoff :
-
cutoff frequency
- f peak :
-
peak frequency of lighting’s radio spectrum
- f pe :
-
plasma frequency
- HF:
-
high frequency (e.m. waves)
- i :
-
stroke current (i o = current constant; α,β = time constants)
- Jy:
-
Jansky
- k:
-
wave vector
- LT:
-
Local Time
- LOFAR:
-
LOw Frequency ARray (in construction)
- LWA:
-
Long Wavelength Array (USA)
- μ :
-
refractive index
- NDA:
-
Nançay decameter array, France
- N e :
-
electron density
- P(f):
-
spectral power
- RPWS:
-
Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument on Cassini orbiter
- S peak :
-
flux density at f peak
- SED:
-
Saturn’s electrostatic discharges
- S min :
-
noise level/detection threshold
- τ :
-
stroke duration
- θ :
-
angle of incidence of the radio wave on the ionosphere
- UED:
-
Uranus’ electrostatic discharges
- UTR-2:
-
Ukrainian T-shape Radiotelescope, mark 2 (near Kharkov, Ukraine)
- VLF:
-
very low frequency
- ∅ :
-
planetary angular diameter
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Zarka, P., Farrell, W., Fischer, G. et al. Ground-Based and Space-Based Radio Observations of Planetary Lightning. Space Sci Rev 137, 257–269 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-008-9366-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-008-9366-8
Keywords
- Planetary lightning
- Planetary atmospheres
- Atmospheric electricity
- Planetary ionospheres
- Radioastronomy
- Radio emission
- Radio wave propagation