A novel technique for remote sensing of thunderstorm electric fields via the Kerr effect and sky polarization

Abstract

Quantitative knowledge of the magnitude as well as spatial and temporal structure of quasi‐static electric fields above a thunderstorm, both prior to and immediately after a lightning discharge, is crucially important for understanding the electrodynamic effects of tropospheric weather on the upper atmosphere. At present, such electric fields are typically only measurable by balloon‐ or aircraft‐borne electric field meters launched near, above, or into the cloud. We herein propose a new low‐cost ground‐based spatially‐ and temporally‐resolved technique for measurement of near‐thunderstorm electric fields via electrically‐induced birefringence (Kerr) effects on natural sky polarization, providing detection in clear air near or above thunderclouds. Such measurements would greatly help understand the effects of lightning and thunderstorms in the upper atmosphere, including sprites, blue jets, and terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes.