HR: 1340h
AN: AE23A-0999    [Abstracts]
TI: Drift-Loss Cone Enhancements Caused by Lightning-Induced Precipitation
AU: * Selser, E M
EM: eselser@stanford.edu
AF: Stanford University, 350 Serra Mall David Packard Bldg, #306, Stanford, CA 94305-9515 United States
AU: Inan, U S
EM: inan@stanford.edu
AF: Stanford University, 350 Serra Mall David Packard Bldg, #355, Stanford, CA 94305-9515 United States
AU: Blake, J B
EM: JBernard.Blake@aero.org
AF: Aerospace Corporation, Mail Stop M2-259 The Aerospace Corporation P.O. Box 92957, Los Angeles, CA 90009 United States
AB: Lightning discharges are well-known sources of electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of a few kHz to many MHz, with the most intense radiation typically being in the range of 5-10 kHz. Electromagnetic waves originating in lightning discharges often propagate through the ionosphere and into the radiation belts. It has long been known that electromagnetic whistler waves injected by lightning discharges can pitch-angle scatter the energetic electrons and cause them to precipitate out of the radiation belts. More recently, manifestations of this phenomena were observed in the form of drift-loss cone enhancements as seen on the SAMPEX satellite [ Blake et al., 2001], suggesting the possibility that lightning may be a driver of precipitation of energetic radiation belt electrons on a global scale. In this paper, we report on the results of two studies of drift-loss cone enhancements as viewed by the SAMPEX satellite during periods of varying geomagnetic activity as determined by the Kp index. In the first study we present evidence of lightning-induced precipitation of >500 keV electrons produced by an unusual cyclonic storm over Northern Australia in 2000. In the second study, we examine lightning-induced precipitation of >150 keV, over extended periods including geomagnetically active and quiet times. Using these examples in conjunction with lightning/thunderstorm data from TRMM/LIS and OTD spacecraft, we investigate the statistical association between drift-loss cone enhancements and local lightning.
DE: 2716 Energetic particles: precipitating
DE: 2774 Radiation belts
DE: 3324 Lightning
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005