Premium
Comment on: ‘Are fast atmospheric pulsations optical signatures of lightning‐induced electron precipitation?’ by J. LaBelle
Author(s) -
Vampola A. L.
Publication year - 1988
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/gl015i006p00633
Subject(s) - southern hemisphere , electron , electron precipitation , northern hemisphere , physics , lightning (connector) , atmospheric sciences , van allen radiation belt , precipitation , environmental science , astrophysics , meteorology , astronomy , magnetic field , nuclear physics , magnetosphere , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
LaBelle [1987] proposed that Fast Atmospheric Light Pulsations (FAPs), which have been observed at L=1.5‐2.2 in the northern hemisphere, are optical signatures of ≥2 MeV electrons associated with Lightning‐induced Electron Precipitation events produced by strokes in the southern hemisphere. FAPs cannot be produced by ≥2 MeV electrons in the inner radiation belt because the upper limit for fluxes of such particles is only about 0.2% of the value that was used in the analysis and the correct value results in an unrealistically short electron lifetime prediction. The discrepancy comes from using an electron model, AE‐2, which included the Starfish fission electrons. Additionally, the use of a model in which southern hemisphere lightning strokes result in northern hemisphere FAPs via a cyclotron mode interaction between magnetospheric electrons and lightning‐generated waves is also untenable because it would result in FAP intensities two orders of magnitude greater in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere, leading to a further two orders of magnitude reduction in estimated inner zone electron lifetimes.