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Lightning driven EMP in the upper atmosphere
Author(s) -
Rowland H. L.,
Fernsler R. F.,
Huba J. D.,
Bernhardt P. A.
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 - 10.1029/95gl00012
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , ionosphere , atmosphere (unit) , plasma , reflection (computer programming) , electromagnetic pulse , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , pulse (music) , absorption (acoustics) , physics , meteorology , geophysics , optics , nuclear physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics , detector , computer science , programming language
Large lightning discharges can drive electromagnetic pulses that cause breakdown of the neutral atmosphere between 80 and 95 km leading to order of magnitude increases in the plasma density. The increase in the plasma density leads to increased reflection and absorption, and limits the pulse strength that propagates higher into the ionosphere.