HR: 09:15h
AN: AE11A-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Infrared Imaging of Transient Luminous Events (1 - 1.5 micron) Over the Mid-Western US and Comparison With Their Visible Wavelength Signatures
AU: * Taylor, M J
EM: mtaylor@cc.usu.edu
AF: Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences and Physics Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322 United States
AU: Pautet, D
AE11A-06 AF: Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences and Physics Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322 United States
AU: Bailey, M
AE11A-06 AF: Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences and Physics Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322 United States
AU: Lyons, W A
EM: walyons@frii.com
AF: FMA Research Inc., Yucca Ridge Field Station, Ft. Collins, CO 80524 United States
AU: Nelson, T E
EM: tnelson@frii.com
AF: FMA Research Inc., Yucca Ridge Field Station, Ft. Collins, CO 80524 United States
AU: Cummer, S
EM: Cummer@ee.duke.edu
AF: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AU: Jaugey, N
AE11A-06 AF: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AU: Gerken, E
AE11A-06 AF: Center for Geospace Studies, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025 United States
AB: As part of a coordinated campaign conducted from Yucca Ridge, Colorado, during summer, 2005, four sensitive imaging systems were fielded by Utah State University to investigate the signatures of transient luminous events (TLEs) over a broad spectral range, extending from the near ultra violet (0.35 microns) to infrared wavelengths (1.5 microns). These measurements were made in conjunction with high speed video and electromagnetic observations providing detailed information of the TLE dynamics and their structures. The USU instruments consisted of two Gen 3 Xybion cameras, one filtered to observe N₂ first positive emissions (665 nm) while the second observed white light emissions. A third intensified camera with an extended blue response was fitted with a broad band filter to observe the N₂+ first negative and N₂ second positive emissions (band width, 350-475 nm). Novel infrared measurements were made using an InGaAs imaging array operating at video rates. All four cameras had similar field of view (25°) and were co-aligned on a single mount with the high speed imager. We discovered that sprites were easily imaged in the infrared spectral range, and over 30 events were captured with the InGaAs camera arising from thunderstorms over the mid-western United States during early July and mid August. This talk will focus on new measurements of the optical characteristics of TLEs imaged in the infrared spectral range (1-1.5 microns) and an initial comparison with their visible and near UV signatures.
DE: 0342 Middle atmosphere: energy deposition (3334)
DE: 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005