Publications [#283220] of Steven A. Cummer

Papers Published

1. Cummer, SA; Inan, US, Measurement of charge transfer in sprite-producing lightning using ELF radio atmospherics, Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 24 no. 14 (January, 1997), pp. 1731-1734, American Geophysical Union (AGU) [97GL51791], [doi]
   (last updated on 2023/06/01)

   Abstract:
   Transient high altitude optical emissions referred to as "sprites" are believed to occur as a result of the transfer of large amounts of charge (∼100-300 C) from cloud altitudes of 5-10 km to the ground. Using a general subionospheric ELF propagation model, we quantitatively interpret magnetic field waveforms of ELF radio atmospherics originating in mid-western U.S. lightning discharges and observed at Stanford (∼1800 km range) to determine the temporal variation of the lightning current and thereby measure the charge transfer during the stroke. For 6 sprite-producing lightning current waveforms observed on July 24, 1996, we find that 25 to 325 coulombs of charge was transferred during the first 5 ms of the discharges, assuming a 10 km altitude for the initial charge. Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.

   Keywords:
   Electric variables measurement;Charge transfer;Lightning;Atmospherics;Mathematical models;Waveform analysis;Electromagnetic fields;Electric discharges;Electric currents;Computer software;Calculations;Light emission;