Premium
lightning‐related fields in the ionosphere
Author(s) -
Baginski M. E.,
Hale L. C.,
Olivero J. J.
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/gl015i008p00764
Subject(s) - ionosphere , electric field , lightning (connector) , physics , computational physics , atmospheric electricity , mechanics , thermal conduction , geophysics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , power (physics)
Lightning‐related transient electric fields and conduction current densities due to the redistribution of charge by the return stroke, but not directly associated with the high‐intensity current channel, are investigated via a simulation of Maxwell's equations. The investigation presents evidence to suggest that the lightning‐related charge redistribution and subsequent relaxation, rather than the high intensity current, is the source of the major component of the transient field and energy coupled to the ionosphere. A time domain finite element analysis is employed in the simulation, using a conductivity profile obtained simultaneously with electric field measurements which agree, in general terms, with the simulations. It is concluded that prior depictions of these phenomena underestimate the fraction of the total energy that couples to and dissipates within the ionosphere and magnosphere.