Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Criteria For Elves And Sprites On Schumann Resonance Observations, E. W. Huang, E. R. Williams, R. Boldi, S. Heckman, W. Lyons, Michael J. Taylor, C. Wong, T. Nelson

All Physics Faculty Publications

Ground flashes with positive polarity associated with both sprites and elves excite the Earth's Schumann resonances to amplitudes several times greater than the background resonances. Theoretical predictions for dielectric breakdown in the mesosphere are tested using ELF methods to evaluate vertical charge moments of positive ground flashes. Comparisons of the measured time constants for lightning charge transfer with the electrostatic relaxation time at altitudes of nighttime sprite initiation (50–70 km) generally validate the electrostatic assumption in predictions made initially by Wilson [1925]. The measured charge moments (Q dS = 200–2000 C-km) are large in comparison with ordinary negative lightning but …