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Heating, ionization and upward discharges in the mesosphere, due to intense quasi‐electrostatic thundercloud fields
Author(s) -
Pasko Victor P.,
Inan Umran S.,
Taranenko Yuri N.,
Bell Timothy F.
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1029/95gl00008
Subject(s) - sprite (computer graphics) , ionization , electric field , mesosphere , atmospheric sciences , atomic physics , spectral line , electron , environmental science , physics , materials science , ion , stratosphere , astronomy , quantum mechanics , computer science , computer vision
Quasi‐electrostatic (QE) fields that temporarily exist at high altitudes following the sudden removal (e.g., by a lightning discharge) of thundercloud charge at low altitudes are found to significantly heat mesospheric electrons and produce ionization and light. The intensity, spatial extent, duration and spectra of optical emissions produced are consistent with the observed features of the Red Sprite type of upward discharges.