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Simultaneous observations of optical lightning from space and LF band lightning waveforms from the ground
Author(s) -
Kikuchi Hiroshi,
Sato Mitsuteru,
Ushio Tomoo,
Morimoto Takeshi,
Kikuchi Masayuki,
Yamazaki Atsushi,
Suzuki Makoto,
Ishida Ryohei,
Sakamoto Yuji,
Wu Ting,
Kawasaki Zen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl071783
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , waveform , photometer , physics , electromagnetic radiation , wavelength , electromagnetic pulse , meteorology , remote sensing , optics , geology , voltage , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Observations of optical lightning data with a photometer (PH4) at wavelengths of 599–900 nm on the International Space Station were conducted simultaneously with observations of low‐frequency (LF) electromagnetic waves with a ground‐based LF lightning locating system. The relationship between the PH4 light curve and electromagnetic waveforms in the LF band was examined for 11 lightning events. The PH4 sensor detected a small optical change even for weak light emitted from lightning discharges in clouds, including preliminary breakdown. Particularly, return strokes, including subsequent return strokes, showed a clear relationship between radiated LF waves and optical waveforms. For negative return strokes, we found a clear correlation between the absolute optical intensity and peak current. The slope of the regression line is 9.7 × 10 −8 kA W −1 with an intercept of 9.9 kA.