HR: 15:04h
AN: AE53A-08    [Abstracts]
TI: Observed Contemporaneous Electric-Field Pulses and X-ray Bursts in a Thunderstorm in Relation to Charge Distribution, Lightning Channels, and CG Flash Occurrence
AU: * Beasley, W H
EM: whb@ou.edu
AF: School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 United States
AU: Eack, K B
EM: keack@nmt.edu
AF: Department of Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801
AU: Roussel-Dupre, R A
EM: rroussel-dupre@lanl.gov
AF: Los Alamos National Laboratory, EES-2, Los Alamos, NM 87545 United States
AU: Bruning, E C
EM: ebruning@rossby.metr.ou.edu
AF: School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 United States
AU: Rust, W D
EM: dave.rust@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069 United States
AU: MacGorman, D R
EM: don.macgorman@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069 United States
AB: We present data from contemporaneous observations of X-rays and electric-field changes made by means of balloon-borne instruments deployed in a thunderstorm on June 17, 2004 as part of the TELEX 2004 field program in central Oklahoma. The purpose of our observations was to provide data suitable for tests of hypotheses for runaway electron processes in thunderstorms. Our measurements show X-ray bursts in direct association with electric-field changes, suggesting the development of runaway discharges. However, the precise nature of the discharges is not entirely constrained by our data and is therefore subject to significant interpretation. The current high level of interest in the subject of runaway electron processes in thunderstorms prompts us to present the results with minimal interpretation. In this paper we proceed on the assumption that contemporaneous occurrence of X-rays and electric-field changes in thunderstorms is in fact a source of useful information about discharge processes. We present a brief review of the runaway breakdown theory and observations that motivated our investigation, and follow with an overview of the new results.
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3394 Instruments and techniques
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
DE: 0600 ELECTROMAGNETICS
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting