Time and space correlation between sprites and their parent lightning flashes for a thunderstorm observed during the HyMeX campaign

Soula, Serge; Defer, Éric; Füllekrug, Martin; Velde, Oscar A. van der; Montanyà, Joan; Bousquet, Olivier; Młynarczyk, Janusz; Coquillat, Sylvain; Pinty, J. P.; Rison, W.; Krehbiel, P. R.; Thomas, Ronald J.; Pédeboy, S.

doi:10.1002/2015jd023894

Cited by 28 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 119 publications

(181 reference statements)

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“…This finding is similar to that in Soula et al . [] for several triangulated sprites in southeastern France, insofar as the long delayed sprites are produced after a positive stroke with a low value of iCMC.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Similar observations were made in several studies based on Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) detections [Lang et al, 2010;Lu et al, 2013;Soula et al, 2015]. However, in both series of dancing sprites reported here, VHF sources are not continuously detected between the areas where the SP + CG strokes are located or between the lines of sight where the sprite elements are observed.…”

Section: Lightning/sprite Timing and Locationsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Thus, during this first sprite period between about 1750 and 1840 UTC, the flash rate produced by the whole storm system is high but that of the storm structure really active for the sprite production is very low. As illustrated in other studies, the convective region associated with the stratiform region in a spriteproducing MCS produces a lower flash rate when the sprites are observed [Lang et al, 2010;Soula et al, 2014;Soula et al, 2015]. However, the correspondence between the convective activity and sprite occurrences can depend on the storm morphology as explained by Lang et al [2010].…”

Section: Storm Characteristics During the Sprite Productionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…As illustrated in other studies, the convective region associated with the stratiform region in a sprite‐producing MCS produces a lower flash rate when the sprites are observed [ Lang et al ., ; Soula et al ., ; Soula et al ., ]. However, the correspondence between the convective activity and sprite occurrences can depend on the storm morphology as explained by Lang et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The time delay between the SP + CG stroke and the sprite ranges from a few milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds [ Bell et al ., ; Cummer and Lyons , ; van der Velde et al ., ]. It depends on the characteristics of the SP + CG stroke, especially in terms of charge moment change (CMC), impulsive CMC (iCMC), and current waveforms [ Soula et al ., ]. It can reach a few tens of milliseconds after a long lightning continuing current following the stroke [ Cummer and Füllekrug , ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dancing sprites: Detailed analysis of two case studies

et al. 2017

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On 29–30 October 2013, a low‐light video camera installed at Pic du Midi (2877 m), recorded transient luminous events above a very active storm over the Mediterranean Sea. The minimum cloud top temperature reached −73°C, while its cloud to ground (CG) flash rate exceeded 30 fl min−1. Some sprite events have long duration and resemble to dancing sprites. We analyze in detail the temporal evolution and estimated location of two series of sprite sequences, as well as the cloud structure, the lightning activity, the electric field radiated in a broad range of low frequencies, and the current moment waveform of the lightning strokes. (i) In each series, successive sprite sequences reflect time and location of corresponding positive lightning strokes across the stratiform region. (ii) The longer time‐delayed (>20 ms) sprite elements correspond to the lower impulsive charge moment changes (iCMC) of the parent strokes (<200 C km), and they are shifted few tens of kilometers from their SP + CG stroke. However, both short and long time‐delayed sprite elements also occur after strokes that produce a large iCMC and that are followed by a continuing current. (iii) The long time‐delayed sprite elements during the continuing current correspond to surges in the current moment waveform. They occur sometimes at an altitude apparently lower than the previous short time‐delayed sprite elements, possibly because of changes in the local conductivity. (iv) The largest and brightest sprite elements produce significant current signatures, visible when their delay is not too short (~3–5 ms).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Lightning/sprite Timing and Locationsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Storm Characteristics During the Sprite Productionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Dancing sprites: Detailed analysis of two case studies

et al. 2017

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Observations of two sprite‐producing storms in Colorado

et al. 2016

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Two sprite‐producing thunderstorms were observed on 8 and 25 June 2012 in northeastern Colorado by a combination of low‐light cameras, a lightning mapping array, polarimetric and Doppler radars, the National Lightning Detection Network, and charge moment change measurements. The 8 June event evolved from a tornadic hailstorm to a larger multicellular system that produced 21 observed positive sprites in 2 h. The majority of sprites occurred during a lull in convective strength, as measured by total flash rate, flash energy, and radar echo volume. Mean flash area spiked multiple times during this period; however, total flash rates still exceeded 60 min−1, and portions of the storm featured a complex anomalous charge structure, with midlevel positive charge near −20°C. The storm produced predominantly positive cloud‐to‐ground lightning. All sprite‐parent flashes occurred on the northeastern flank of the storm, where strong westerly upper level flow was consistent with advection of charged precipitation away from convection, providing a pathway for stratiform lightning. The 25 June event was another multicellular hailstorm with an anomalous charge structure that produced 26 positive sprites in less than 1 h. The sprites again occurred during a convective lull, with relatively weaker reflectivity and lower total flash rate but relatively larger mean flash area. However, all sprite parents occurred in or near convection and tapped charge layers in adjacent anvil cloud. The results demonstrate the sprite production by convective ground strokes in anomalously charged storms and also indicate that sprite production and convective vigor are inversely related in mature storms.

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Dancing Sprites Above a Lightning Mapping Array - an analysis of the storm and flash/sprite developments

Tomicic

Soula

Defer

et al. 2021

Preprint

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A high percentage (90%) of dancing sprites were produced by a large asymmetric MCS which developed in strong convective conditions over the Mediterranean Sea • The sprite parent flashes mainly initiated at the edge of the convective region and propagated 100-200 km across the stratiform region • An especially bright and wide sprite sequence was produced by three distinct positive CG strokes that occurred within 3 ms and were separated by 54 km

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Time and space correlation between sprites and their parent lightning flashes for a thunderstorm observed during the HyMeX campaign

Abstract: Postprint (published version

Cited by 28 publications

References 119 publications

Dancing sprites: Detailed analysis of two case studies

Dancing sprites: Detailed analysis of two case studies

Observations of two sprite‐producing storms in Colorado

Dancing Sprites Above a Lightning Mapping Array - an analysis of the storm and flash/sprite developments

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