Abstract
Electric and magnetic fields in time and frequency domain due to return stroke-lateral corona (RS-LC) system and re- cently discovered red sprites have been calculated. It has been found that the electric and magnetic fields due to return stroke and lateral corona system radiate in the very low frequency (VLF) region while due to sprites radiate in the ex- tremely low frequency (ELF) range. A comparison has been made between the radiations emitted due to RS-LC system and sprites in ELF (0 - 200 Hz) region. It has been found that the electric field i.e. radiation power generated due to sprites dominates in the ELF range and thus it is concluded that the red sprites as compared to the RS-LC system are the prominent source for the excitation of Schumann resonances in the earth-ionosphere waveguide.
Highlights
It is well known that thundercloud is generally the generator of all kind of lightning which occur in our atmosphere
It has been found that the electric field i.e. radiation power generated due to sprites dominates in the extremely low frequency (ELF) range and it is concluded that the red sprites as compared to the return stroke-lateral corona (RS-LC) system are the prominent source for the excitation of Schumann resonances in the earth-ionosphere waveguide
Another theory based on runaway electrons [8,9,10] describes that the cosmic ray electrons having energy can become runaway in presence of the quasi-electrostatic thundercloud electric field and bombard the upper atmosphere resulting in red sprites
Summary
It is well known that thundercloud is generally the generator of all kind of lightning which occur in our atmosphere. Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning, Intracloud lightning and recently discovered upper atmospheric lightning like red sprites, blue jets and elves are some kind of discharges which are associated directly or indirectly with the thunderclouds. Red sprites are manifestation of the breakdown of upper atmosphere due to the heating and ionization by the quasi-electrostatic fields developed at higher altitudes due to the large positive CG lightning [7] These QE fields are linearly proportional to the vertical charge moment change (CMC) of the parent lightning discharge [4]. Sprites can be generated by acoustic waves generated in the lower atmosphere due to natural cataclysms like hurricanes, thunderstorm lightning and tornados [11] They have different shapes and sizes depending upon the causative positive cloud-to-ground lightning.
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