Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Whitley, Toby
• Füllekrug, Martin
• Rycroft, Michael
• Bennett, Alec
• Wyatt, Frank
• Elliott, Don
• Heinson, Graham
• Hitchman, Adrian
• Lewis, Andrew
• Sefako, Ramotholo
• Fourie, Pieter
• Dyers, Jaci
• Thomson, Alan
• Flower, Simon

Titel

Worldwide extremely low frequency magnetic field sensor network for sprite studies

Ist Teil von

• Radio science, 2011-08, Vol.46 (4), p.n/a

Ort / Verlag

Washington: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2011

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Wiley Online Library Journals Frontfile Complete

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The first measurements from a new globally distributed extremely low frequency magnetic field sensor network are presented. The recorded data demonstrate that the system observed lightning with continuing currents on a global scale with a timing accuracy of ∼30 μs. The network consists of four state of the art instruments at sites in Scotland, the United States, South Africa and Australia. Each instrument records the two horizontal magnetic field components (Bx and By) with a sampling frequency of 4 kHz. The first results show the typical electromagnetic signature of a transient airglow increase (sprite) above a thunderstorm in southern Europe which is simultaneously imaged with a video camera. A similar electromagnetic signature is recorded from a lightning discharge in central Africa, and it is also attributed to a sprite occurrence. Studies using this global network should advance lightning and sprite research considerably. Key Points A global network of intruments cross calibrated to a timing accuracy of ∼30 us The network has a high resolution able to identify ELF sprite characteristics The network will provide unique data for global lightning and sprite studies