Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashes
<p>We investigate properties of the electromagnetic activity following the first lightning return stroke (RS), using concurrent observations from the SLAVIA (Shielded Loop Antenna with a Versatile Integrated Amplifier) sensor, the SAETTA (Suivi de l'Activité Electrique Tridimensionnelle T...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/1791/2025/acp-25-1791-2025.pdf |
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| author | A. Kolínská A. Kolínská I. Kolmašová I. Kolmašová E. Defer O. Santolík O. Santolík S. Pédeboy |
| author_facet | A. Kolínská A. Kolínská I. Kolmašová I. Kolmašová E. Defer O. Santolík O. Santolík S. Pédeboy |
| author_sort | A. Kolínská |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>We investigate properties of the electromagnetic activity following the first lightning return stroke (RS), using concurrent observations from the SLAVIA (Shielded Loop Antenna with a Versatile Integrated Amplifier) sensor, the SAETTA (Suivi de l'Activité Electrique Tridimensionnelle Totale de l'Atmosphère) Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) and the METEORAGE LF (low-frequency) network in the Corsica region. From the data collected between September and December 2015, we selected 66 negative cloud-to-ground (<span class="inline-formula">−CG</span>) and 26 positive cloud-to-ground (<span class="inline-formula">+CG</span>) lightning flashes in the north-western Mediterranean region. In the SAETTA data, we observe a decrease in the very high frequency (VHF) radiation rate and the VHF power, as recorded within a typical 80 <span class="inline-formula">µs</span> time window at the LMA stations, immediately after the RS pulse in 59 <span class="inline-formula">−CG</span> flashes. Contrastingly, we show that all examined <span class="inline-formula">+CG</span> flashes exhibit a rapid increase in the VHF radiation rate and the VHF power immediately after the RS. We suggest a possible explanation of this phenomenon by considering the step-like propagation of a negative part of the bidirectional leader starting at the top end of the positive lightning channel inside the thundercloud, emitting electromagnetic radiation across a broad frequency spectrum.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0358f18d7f1b465fa5f503a47d9cf0fb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-0358f18d7f1b465fa5f503a47d9cf0fb2025-02-10T05:23:14ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-02-01251791180310.5194/acp-25-1791-2025Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashesA. Kolínská0A. Kolínská1I. Kolmašová2I. Kolmašová3E. Defer4O. Santolík5O. Santolík6S. Pédeboy7Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, 121 16 Prague, CzechiaInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 141 00 Prague, CzechiaFaculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, 121 16 Prague, CzechiaInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 141 00 Prague, CzechiaLaboratoire d'Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, OMP, UPS, 314 00 Toulouse, FranceFaculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, 121 16 Prague, CzechiaInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 141 00 Prague, CzechiaMETEORAGE, 640 00 Pau, France<p>We investigate properties of the electromagnetic activity following the first lightning return stroke (RS), using concurrent observations from the SLAVIA (Shielded Loop Antenna with a Versatile Integrated Amplifier) sensor, the SAETTA (Suivi de l'Activité Electrique Tridimensionnelle Totale de l'Atmosphère) Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) and the METEORAGE LF (low-frequency) network in the Corsica region. From the data collected between September and December 2015, we selected 66 negative cloud-to-ground (<span class="inline-formula">−CG</span>) and 26 positive cloud-to-ground (<span class="inline-formula">+CG</span>) lightning flashes in the north-western Mediterranean region. In the SAETTA data, we observe a decrease in the very high frequency (VHF) radiation rate and the VHF power, as recorded within a typical 80 <span class="inline-formula">µs</span> time window at the LMA stations, immediately after the RS pulse in 59 <span class="inline-formula">−CG</span> flashes. Contrastingly, we show that all examined <span class="inline-formula">+CG</span> flashes exhibit a rapid increase in the VHF radiation rate and the VHF power immediately after the RS. We suggest a possible explanation of this phenomenon by considering the step-like propagation of a negative part of the bidirectional leader starting at the top end of the positive lightning channel inside the thundercloud, emitting electromagnetic radiation across a broad frequency spectrum.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/1791/2025/acp-25-1791-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. Kolínská A. Kolínská I. Kolmašová I. Kolmašová E. Defer O. Santolík O. Santolík S. Pédeboy Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashes Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashes |
| title_full | Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashes |
| title_fullStr | Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashes |
| title_short | Post-return stroke VHF electromagnetic activity in north-western Mediterranean cloud-to-ground lightning flashes |
| title_sort | post return stroke vhf electromagnetic activity in north western mediterranean cloud to ground lightning flashes |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/1791/2025/acp-25-1791-2025.pdf |
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