A statistical study over Europe of the relative locations of lightning and associated energetic burst of electrons from the radiation belt

F. Bourriez,J.-J. Berthelier,J.-L. Pinçon,J.-A. Sauvaud,M. Parrot

doi:10.5194/angeo-34-157-2016

Abstract

Abstract. The DEMETER (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) spacecraft detects short bursts of lightning-induced electron precipitation (LEP) simultaneously with newly injected upgoing whistlers. The LEP occurs within < 1 s of the causative lightning discharge. First in situ observations of the size and location of the region affected by the LEP precipitation are presented on the basis of a statistical study made over Europe using the DEMETER energetic particle detector, wave electric field experiment, and networks of lightning detection (Météorage, the UK Met Office Arrival Time Difference network (ATDnet), and the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN)). The LEP is shown to occur significantly north of the initial lightning and extends over some 1000 km on each side of the longitude of the lightning. In agreement with models of electron interaction with obliquely propagating lightning-generated whistlers, the distance from the LEP to the lightning decreases as lightning proceed to higher latitudes.

Highlights

Cyclotron-resonant loss of trapped electrons via scattering by lightning whistler waves was first indirectly evidenced as whistler-associated perturbations of subionospheric very low-frequency (VLF) signals (Helliwell et al, 1973) and directly detected (Voss et al, 1984, 1998) as lightninginduced electron precipitation bursts associated with ducted whistlers
Analysis of the DEMETER (Detection of ElectroMagnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) spacecraft particle data showed that energetic electron precipitation exhibits a seasonal dependence consistent with lightning-induced electron precipitation
We found 60 clear DEMETER observations of electron precipitation events related to lightning over Europe (Fig. 3)

Summary

Introduction

Cyclotron-resonant loss of trapped electrons via scattering by lightning whistler waves was first indirectly evidenced as whistler-associated perturbations of subionospheric very low-frequency (VLF) signals (Helliwell et al, 1973) and directly detected (Voss et al, 1984, 1998) as lightninginduced electron precipitation bursts associated with ducted whistlers. Analysis of the DEMETER (Detection of ElectroMagnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) spacecraft particle data showed that energetic electron precipitation exhibits a seasonal dependence consistent with lightning-induced electron precipitation. By L = 3.2, cyclotron resonance interactions with plasmaspheric hiss can occur, and these naturally generated waves provide the dominant scattering loss process throughout the outer portion of the slot region (Abel and Thorne, 1998; Lyons et al, 1972). ATDnet data do not provide intensity and polarity lightning features; we determined causative lightning peak currents from the EUCLID–Météorage database for cases reported for 2007 to 2008

Observations

Discussion

Conclusion