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Determining Electric Fields in Thunderclouds With the Radiotelescope LOFAR.
T N G Trinh1,2, O Scholten2,3, S Buitink4,5
1Department of Physics, School of Education Can Tho University Campus II Can Tho Vietnam.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres : JGR
|July 28, 2020
Summary
Researchers mapped thundercloud electric fields using cosmic rays. They found a main negative charge layer near -10°C, with strong horizontal fields, regardless of lightning activity.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Physics
- Electromagnetism
- Cosmic Ray Physics
Background:
- Thunderclouds generate powerful electric fields crucial for lightning.
- Direct measurement of these fields within clouds is challenging.
- Cosmic ray extensive air showers offer a novel probing method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze electric fields within thunderclouds using cosmic ray extensive air showers.
- To reconstruct the vertical and horizontal components of electric fields.
- To investigate the spatial distribution of charge layers in different seasons.
Main Methods:
- Utilized radio emission from extensive air shower (EAS) events during thunderstorms.
- Applied an improved fitting procedure for data analysis.
- Reconstructed electric field components using cosmic rays as probes (thundercloud tomography).
Main Results:
- Identified the main negative charge layer near the -10°C isotherm in both winter and summer clouds.
- Observed strong horizontal electric field components exceeding 70 kV/m in middle and upper cloud layers.
- Detected significant electric fields even in the absence of detectable lightning.
- Determined cloud top heights: 5-6 km for winter, 9 km for summer.
Conclusions:
- Cosmic ray tomography is effective for studying thundercloud electric fields.
- The -10°C isotherm is a consistent location for the primary negative charge layer.
- Significant electric fields exist in thunderclouds independent of immediate lightning discharge.
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