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Insights into high peak current in-cloud lightning events during thunderstorms

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lyu, F; Cummer, SA; McTague, L
Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
August 28, 2015

We investigated National Lightning Detection Network reports and lightning radio waveforms in a 44 day observation period to analyze the in-cloud (IC) events producing currents above 200 kA. The results show that there are two distinct classes of IC lightning events with very high peak currents: the well-known narrow bipolar events, and a previously unreported type that we call energetic in-cloud pulses (EIPs). Their temporal and spatial context shows that EIPs are generated from existing negative polarity leaders that are propagating usually upward but sometimes downward. The nearly identical characteristics of EIPs and some previously reported terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) indicate a likely connection between the two, which further suggests the possibility of downward directed TGFs. These very high peak current IC events also suggest the association of EIPs with ionospheric perturbations and optical emissions known as elves.

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Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

August 28, 2015

Volume

42

Issue

16

Start / End Page

6836 / 6843

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
 

Citation

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Lyu, F., Cummer, S. A., & McTague, L. (2015). Insights into high peak current in-cloud lightning events during thunderstorms. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(16), 6836–6843. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065047
Lyu, F., S. A. Cummer, and L. McTague. “Insights into high peak current in-cloud lightning events during thunderstorms.” Geophysical Research Letters 42, no. 16 (August 28, 2015): 6836–43. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065047.
Lyu F, Cummer SA, McTague L. Insights into high peak current in-cloud lightning events during thunderstorms. Geophysical Research Letters. 2015 Aug 28;42(16):6836–43.
Lyu, F., et al. “Insights into high peak current in-cloud lightning events during thunderstorms.” Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 42, no. 16, Aug. 2015, pp. 6836–43. Scopus, doi:10.1002/2015GL065047.
Lyu F, Cummer SA, McTague L. Insights into high peak current in-cloud lightning events during thunderstorms. Geophysical Research Letters. 2015 Aug 28;42(16):6836–6843.
Journal cover image

Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

August 28, 2015

Volume

42

Issue

16

Start / End Page

6836 / 6843

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences