Calculation of a gigantic upward atmospheric discharge, accompanying optical phenomena, and penetrating radiations. II. Numerical simulation results

Abstract

Gigantic upward atmospheric discharges have been numerically simulated. The space-time distributions of the self-consistent electric field strength and charged particle densities have been obtained. The brightness, color, and evolution in the space and time of fluorescence above a thundercloud, which agree with the data of field observations of such high-altitude optical phenomena as blue jets and red sprites, have been calculated. It has been indicated that large duration of blue jets results from the emission of a decaying ion plasma of the air. The yields of hard gamma rays and neutrons, generated by upward discharges, have been calculated.