HR: 08:30h
AN: AE31A-02    [PDF]
TI: Observations of Runaway Breakdown in Thunderstorms: Where We've Been, Where We Are and Where We Need to Go
AU: * Eack, K B
EM: keack@kestrel.nmt.edu
AF: Langmuir Laboratory New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AU: Aulich, G
EM: aulich@grosbeak.nmt.edu
AF: Langmuir Laboratory New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AU: Moore, C B
EM: moore@nmt.edu
AF: Langmuir Laboratory New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AU: Roussel-Dupre, R
EM: rroussel-dupre@lanl.gov
AF: Los Alamos National Laboratory, EES-2 MS F665 PO Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545 United States
AB: The search for energetic electrons associated with thunderstorms began with C.T.R Wilson's original hypothesis in 1925. With varying degrees of success, numerous investigators have attempted to verify this hypothesis through ground-based measurements as well as {\it in-situ} measurements using balloons and aircraft. Over the past two decades, more advanced theories for energetic electron avalanches (Runaway Breakdown) have been proposed. Also during this time, more advanced measurement techniques have been applied in the effort to confirm or refute the presence of runaway breakdown in thunderstorms. These recent measurements indicate that energetic electrons indicative of runaway breakdown are present in lightning (step-leaders and dart-leaders) as well as near charge centers of thunderstorms. Since we have so few observations, additional measurements of energetic electron processes inside thunderstorms are certainly needed. However, this area of observational research appears to be ready to move beyond pure phenomenology and can begin to shape the next generation of runaway breakdown models. Conversely, we need to use current models to improve the next generations of observations.
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3394 Instruments and techniques
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting