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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 32, L04812, doi:10.1029/2004GL021943, 2005

VLF/ELF sferic evidence for in-cloud discharge activity producing sprites

A. Ohkubo

Department of Geophysics, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan


H. Fukunishi

Department of Geophysics, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan


Y. Takahashi

Department of Geophysics, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan


T. Adachi

Department of Geophysics, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan


Abstract

Sprite luminosities produced by winter lightning in Japan were found to be associated with simultaneous occurrences of clusters of radio atmospherics as observed in the VLF range, suggesting an in-cloud discharge activity. Concurrent ELF data show transient perturbations, indicating continuous charge transfer in causative lightning. These data provide the first evidence that an in-cloud discharge activity plays an important role in the generation mechanism of sprites.

Received 8 November 2004; accepted 1 February 2005; published 26 February 2005.

Index Terms: 3304 Atmospheric Processes: Atmospheric electricity; 3324 Atmospheric Processes: Lightning; 3334 Atmospheric Processes: Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342); 3360 Atmospheric Processes: Remote sensing; 0634 Electromagnetics: Measurement and standards.

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Citation: Ohkubo, A., H. Fukunishi, Y. Takahashi, and T. Adachi (2005), VLF/ELF sferic evidence for in-cloud discharge activity producing sprites, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L04812, doi:10.1029/2004GL021943.