Abstract
Abstract. In this research, we reveal the inter-connection between lightning strokes, reversal of the electric field, ionospheric disturbances, and a sodium layer (NaS), based on the joint observations by a temperature/wind (T/W, where the slash means “and”) lidar, an ionosonde, an atmospheric electric mill, a fluxgate magnetometer, and the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN). Our results suggest that lightning strokes could trigger or amplify the formation of an NaS layer in a descending sporadic E layer (ES), through a mechanism that involves the overturning of the electric field. A conjunction between the lower and upper atmospheres could be established as follows by these inter-connected phenomena, and the key processes could be suggested to be: lightning strokes → overturning of the electric field → ES generating NaS.
Highlights
The upper mesosphere–lower thermosphere (MLT) is the interface region for momentum and energy exchanges between the Earth’s low atmosphere and outer space
Our results suggest that lightning strokes may have an influence on the lower ionosphere, leading to the occurrence of NaS, with the atmospheric electric field probably playing an important role
Based on the above results, a possible mechanism for NaS could be suggested by the following four steps: (1) strong lightning strokes produce an upward atmospheric electric field toward the ionosphere; (2) the reverse of the electric field would cause a temporary charge separation, leading to a trigger of recombination between electrons and ions; (3) when the ES descends below about 100 km, the sodium ions would recombine with electrons much more efficiently through cycling chemical reactions under a large k (Na+ → Na) value; (4) the ES layers generate the formation of NaS
Summary
The upper mesosphere–lower thermosphere (MLT) is the interface region for momentum and energy exchanges between the Earth’s low atmosphere and outer space. In the Northern Hemisphere, the ES layer would descend to a lower altitude in a southward electric field (Abdu et al, 2003; Damtie et al, 2003; Haldoupis et al, 2004; Kirkwood and Nilsson, 2000; Kirkwood and von Zahn, 1991; Macdougall and Jayachandran, 2005; Nygrén et al, 2006; Parkinson et al, 1998; Takahashi et al, 2015; Voiculescu et al, 2006; Wakabayashi and Ono, 2005; Wan et al, 2001; Wilkinson et al, 1992), and observations in the polar cap suggest that the electric field reversal has an influence on the probability of ES occurrences (Macdougall and Jayachandran, 2005). Our results suggest that lightning strokes may have an influence on the lower ionosphere, leading to the occurrence of NaS, with the atmospheric electric field probably playing an important role
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