Lightning associated with the 1992 eruptions of Crater Peak, Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska

McNutt, Stephen R.; Davis, Cory

doi:10.1016/s0377-0273(00)00181-5

Cited by 52 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Hydrogen sulfide has likely been outgassed from the Earth continuously throughout its history (24). Early volcanic eruptions may have injected reduced gases into a local atmosphere subject to lightning discharges, which frequently appear during volcanic eruptions today (25,26)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H ₂ S-rich spark discharge experiment

Parker

Cleaves

Dworkin

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

269

212

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Archived samples from a previously unreported 1958 Stanley Miller electric discharge experiment containing hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) were recently discovered and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We report here the detection and quantification of primary amine-containing compounds in the original sample residues, which were produced via spark discharge using a gaseous mixture of H 2 S, CH 4 , NH 3 , and CO 2 . A total of 23 amino acids and 4 amines, including 7 organosulfur compounds, were detected in these samples. The major amino acids with chiral centers are racemic within the accuracy of the measurements, indicating that they are not contaminants introduced during sample storage. This experiment marks the first synthesis of sulfur amino acids from spark discharge experiments designed to imitate primordial environments. The relative yield of some amino acids, in particular the isomers of aminobutyric acid, are the highest ever found in a spark discharge experiment. The simulated primordial conditions used by Miller may serve as a model for early volcanic plume chemistry and provide insight to the possible roles such plumes may have played in abiotic organic synthesis. Additionally, the overall abundances of the synthesized amino acids in the presence of H 2 S are very similar to the abundances found in some carbonaceous meteorites, suggesting that H 2 S may have played an important role in prebiotic reactions in early solar system environments.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H ₂ S-rich spark discharge experiment

Parker

Cleaves

Dworkin

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

269

212

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Typically, discharges are hundreds of meters in length, transfer up to 0.1-0.5 C per event, produce local electric fields in the order of several kVm -1 , typically release about 10 6 J, and seem to begin about 20 min after the eruptions vigorous initiation (Anderson et al, 1965;Brook et at., 1974;Katahira, 1992;McNutt and Davis, 2000). The geometric-mean peak currents of either polarity related to volcano lightning were sometimes only a factor of 2-3 lower than those associated to ordinary lightning recorded by the same network.…”

Section: Sources Within the Cavitymentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Impact charging plays an important role in the volcanic plume dust particles can get charged with their charges depending on the nature and velocity of the colliding particles, leading to charge separation mechanisms (Aizawa et al, 2010) rather similar to those acting in thunderstorm clouds. A large number of volcanic eruptions have been reported to produce lightning, with stroke rates up to 1 every 3 seconds during the eruption of Mount Spurr in Alaska (McNutt and Davis, 2000). Like in thunderstorms, volcano lightning occurs within the plume (equivalent to CC discharges) or between plume and ground (equivalent to CG and GC discharges).…”

Section: Sources Within the Cavitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Wave Phenomena Related to Tropospheric-Ionospheric Coupling Mechanisms

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Investigation of coupling mechanisms between the troposphere and the ionosphere requires a multidisciplinary approach involving several branches of atmospheric sciences, from meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, and fulminology to aeronomy, plasma physics, and space weather. In this work, we review low frequency electromagnetic wave propagation in the Earthionosphere cavity from a troposphere-ionosphere coupling perspective. We discuss electromagnetic wave generation, propagation, and resonance phenomena, considering atmospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric sources, from lightning and transient luminous events at low altitude to Alfven waves and particle precipitation related to solar and magnetospheric processes. We review in situ ionospheric processes as well as surface and space weather phenomena that drive troposphere-ionosphere dynamics. Effects of aerosols, water vapor distribution, thermodynamic parameters, and cloud charge separation and electrification processes on atmospheric electricity and electromagnetic waves are reviewed. We also briefly revisit ionospheric irregularities such as spread-F and explosive spread-F, sporadic-E, traveling ionospheric disturbances, Trimpi effect, and hiss and plasma turbulence. Regarding the role of the lower boundary of the cavity, we review transient surface phenomena, including seismic activity, earthquakes, volcanic processes and dust electrification. The role of surface and https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20120011991 2018-05-12T18:35:14+00:00Z atmospheric gravity waves in ionospheric dynamics is also briefly addressed. We summarize analytical and numerical tools and techniques to model low frequency electromagnetic wave propagation and solving inverse problems and summarize in a final section a few challenging subjects that are important for a better understanding of tropospheric-ionospheric coupling mechanisms.

show abstract

“…We also discuss reporting parameters because these affect the historical record of lightning occurrence. Few instrumental studies of volcanic lightning have been undertaken (Hoblitt 1994;McNutt and Davis 2000;Paskievitch et al 1995;Thomas et al 2007Thomas et al , 2010, but this study is complementary to all of them. Accordingly, some recommendations are included regarding desirable electrical studies that will be necessarily aimed at constraining mechanisms for volcanic lightning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Despite the frequent occurrence of volcanic lightning, and many spectacular photographs, only two systematic compilations of basic lightning facts have been published (McNutt and Davis 2000;Mather and Harrison 2006). Here we present results of a more comprehensive literature search on the occurrence of volcanic lightning and attempt to summarize the effects of observed parameters such as height of plume, volume of tephra and gases (mainly water vapor), and magma composition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volcanic lightning: global observations and constraints on source mechanisms

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lightning and electrification at volcanoes are important because they represent a hazard in their own right, they are a component of the global electrical circuit, and because they contribute to ash particle aggregation and modification within ash plumes. The role of water substance (water in all forms) in particular has not been well studied. Here data are presented from a comprehensive global database of volcanic lightning. Lightning has been documented at 80 volcanoes in association with 212 eruptions. The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) could be determined for 177 eruptions. Eight percent of VEI=3-5 eruptions have reported lightning, and 10% of VEI=6, but less than 2% of those with VEI=1-2. These findings suggest consistent reporting for larger eruptions but either less lightning or possible under-reporting for small eruptions. Ash plume heights (142 observations) show a bimodal distribution with main peaks at 7-12 km and 1-4 km. The former are similar to heights of typical thunderstorms and suggest involvement of water substance, whereas the latter suggest other factors contributing to electrical behavior closer to the vent. Reporting of lightning is more common at night (56%) and less common in daylight (44%). Reporting also varied substantially from year to year, suggesting that a more systematic observational strategy is needed. Several weak trends in lightning occurrence based on magma composition were found. The bimodal ash plume heights are obvious only for andesite to dacite; basalt and basaltic-andesite evenly span the range of heights; and rhyolites are poorly represented. The distributions of the latitudes of volcanoes with lightning and eruptions with lightning roughly mimic the distribution of all volcanoes, which is generally flat with latitude. Meteorological lightning, on the other hand, is common in the tropics and decreases markedly with increasing latitude as the ability of the atmosphere to hold water decreases poleward. This finding supports the idea that if lightning in large (deep) eruptions depends on water substance, then the origin of the water is primarily magma and not entrainment from the surrounding atmosphere. Seasonal effects show that more eruptions with lightning were reported in winter (bounded by the respective autumnal and vernal equinoxes) than in summer. This result also runs counter to the expectations based on entrainment of local water vapor.

show abstract

Lightning associated with the 1992 eruptions of Crater Peak, Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska

Cited by 52 publications

References 19 publications

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H ₂ S-rich spark discharge experiment

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H ₂ S-rich spark discharge experiment

A Review of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Wave Phenomena Related to Tropospheric-Ionospheric Coupling Mechanisms

Volcanic lightning: global observations and constraints on source mechanisms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Lightning associated with the 1992 eruptions of Crater Peak, Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska

Cited by 52 publications

References 19 publications

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H 2 S-rich spark discharge experiment

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H 2 S-rich spark discharge experiment

A Review of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Wave Phenomena Related to Tropospheric-Ionospheric Coupling Mechanisms

Volcanic lightning: global observations and constraints on source mechanisms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H ₂ S-rich spark discharge experiment

Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H ₂ S-rich spark discharge experiment