Early Trimpi events from lightning-induced electric fields in the ionosphere - An alternative explanation
Abstract
Two classes of 'Trimpi' modulation of VLF signals in the earth-ionosphere waveguide have been identified in the literature. The more common type occurs 1 s or more after causative lightning strokes, the second in less than 100 ms. The possibility that these early Trimpi events result from lightning-generated, electric field impulses lowering the mirror altitudes of trapped electrons is examined. To overcome the mirror force on energetic electrons, upward-directed electric fields with strengths of a few tens of mV/m are required. This is well within the range of electric fields observed on sounding rockets above thunderstorms.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics
- Pub Date:
- February 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0021-9169(92)90130-D
- Bibcode:
- 1992JATP...54..205B
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Electricity;
- Earth Ionosphere;
- Electric Fields;
- Ionospheric Cross Modulation;
- Lightning;
- Atmospheric Models;
- Atmospheric Physics;
- High Energy Electrons;
- Sounding Rockets;
- Trapped Particles;
- Very Low Frequencies