Simulated impacts of atmospheric gravity waves on the initiation and optical emissions of sprite halos in the mesosphere

Abstract

The correlation between atmospheric gravity waves (GWs) and Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) has been poorly studied using both synchronous observations and numerical simulations. To investigate the modulation effects of GWs on TLEs, a troposphere-mesosphere quasi-electrostatic field model is developed in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, and the effects of GW perturbations on the initiation and optical emissions of sprite halos are simulated using the model. Simulation results indicate that the atmospheric density at lower ionosphere altitudes becomes inhomogeneous due to GW perturbations, and sprite halos tend to initiate in the GW troughs due to the lower electric breakdown threshold. GW perturbations cause the deformation of sprite halos, strong luminous regions distribute mainly along the GW troughs while optical intensities along the GW peaks is relatively weak. Larger GW perturbations lead to more pronounced deformation of sprite halos, however, stronger lightning discharges in the troposphere result in less optical perturbations of sprite halos. The observed luminous intensities and optical morphology of sprite halos are also affected by the observing orientations and the lightning polarities.