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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Sprite Streamer Formation And Propagation: Theory And Observations, Burcu Kosar
Sprite Streamer Formation And Propagation: Theory And Observations, Burcu Kosar
Theses and Dissertations
Sprites are finely-structured, large scale electrical discharges typically initiated near the lower boundary of the ionosphere at 70-85 km altitudes [Pasko, 2010; Ebert et al., 2010; Pasko et al., 2011, 2013; Liu, 2014; Liu et al., 2015b]. Their lateral extent is ∼5-10 km and vertical extent is ∼50 km, and hence the atmospheric volume electrically and chemically affected by sprites is thousands of cubic kilometers [Sentman et al., 1995; Lyons, 2006]. Halos are relatively uniform, descending glows that may give rise to more structured features, from which sprites are initiated. A large amount of observational [e.g., Gerken et al., 2000; …
Theoretical And Experimental Investigations Of The Electromagnetic Fields And Energetic Particles Associated With Thunderstorms And Lightning, Shahab Arabshahi
Theoretical And Experimental Investigations Of The Electromagnetic Fields And Energetic Particles Associated With Thunderstorms And Lightning, Shahab Arabshahi
Theses and Dissertations
Despite more than 250 years after Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment, lightning is still one of the mysteries of nature. We still do not understand how lightning works at the most basic level. Traditionally, lightning used to be studied using classical electrodynamics. However, in the last decade or so, the observation of many high energy phenomena associated with lightning and thunderclouds (e.g., X-rays from lightning leaders, TGFs, X-ray and gamma-ray glows from thunderstorms, etc.), started a new path in studying lightning and thunderstorms. It is suggested that energetic radiation in our atmosphere is the result of bremsstrahlung scattering of energetic electrons, …
Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanches Inside The High Field Regions Of Thunderclouds, Eric Scott Cramer
Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanches Inside The High Field Regions Of Thunderclouds, Eric Scott Cramer
Theses and Dissertations
In this dissertation, simplified equations describing the transport and energy spectrum of runaway electrons are derived from the basic kinematics of the continuity equations. These equations are useful in modeling the energy distribution of energetic electrons in strong electric fields, such as those found inside thunderstorms. Dwyer and Babich [2011] investigated the generation of low-energy electrons in relativistic runaway electron avalanches. The paper also developed simple analytical expressions to describe the detailed physics of Monte Carlo simulations of relativistic runaway electrons in air. In this work, the energy spectra of the runaway electron population are studied in detail. Dependence of …
Initiation Of Streamers From Thundercloud Hydrometeors And Implications To Lightning Initiation, Samaneh Sadighi
Initiation Of Streamers From Thundercloud Hydrometeors And Implications To Lightning Initiation, Samaneh Sadighi
Theses and Dissertations
Electric field values measured inside thunderclouds have consistently been reported to be up to an order of magnitude lower than the value required for the conventional electrical breakdown of air. This result has made it difficult to explain how lightning frequently occurs in thunderclouds. One theory that has been offered to explain the lightning initiation process is the theory of lightning initiation from hydrometeors. According to this theory, lightning can be initiated from electrical discharges originating around thundercloud water or ice particles in the measured thundercloud electric field. These particles, called hydrometeors, can cause significant enhancement of the thundercloud electric …