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Needle Propagation and Twinkling Characteristics

Hare, B. M.; Scholten, O.; Dwyer, J.; Strepka, C.; Buitink, S.; Corstanje, A.; Falcke, H.; Hörandel, J. R.; Huege, T. 1; Krampah, G. K.; Mitra, P.; Mulrey, K.; Nelles, A.; Pandya, H.; Rachen, J. P.; Thoudam, S.; Trinh, T. N. G.; Veen, S. ter; Winchen, T.
1 Institut für Astroteilchenphysik (IAP), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Abstract:

Recently, a new lightning phenomena, termed needles, has been observed in both VHF and in optical along positive lightning leaders. They appear as small (<100 m) leader branches that undergo dielectric breakdown at regular intervals (called twinkles). Providing a coherent and consistent explanation for this phenomenon is challenging as each twinkle is a form of negative breakdown that propagates away from the positive leader. In this study, we provide detailed observations of needles in VHF, observed during two lightning flashes. We show distributions of different needle properties, including twinkle propagation speeds, time between twinkles, and needle lengths, among others. We show a return stroke and multiple recoil leaders that quench needle activity. We also show that nearby needle activity does not seem to correlate together, and that needle twinkling can slow down by 10%–30% per twinkle. We conclude by presenting possibilities for how the positive leader could induce negative propagation away from the positive channel, and we argue that twinkles can propagate like a stepped leader or like a recoil leader depending on the temperature of the needle, which implies that needle twinkles can probably propagate without emitting VHF.


Verlagsausgabe §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000131136
Veröffentlicht am 25.08.2021
Originalveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1029/2020JD034252
Scopus
Zitationen: 10
Web of Science
Zitationen: 10
Dimensions
Zitationen: 11
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Astroteilchenphysik (IAP)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsjahr 2021
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 2169-897X, 0148-0227, 2156-2202, 2169-8996
KITopen-ID: 1000131136
HGF-Programm 51.13.04 (POF IV, LK 01) Kosmische Strahlung Technologien
Erschienen in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Verlag John Wiley and Sons
Band 126
Heft 6
Seiten Art-Nr e2020JD034252
Vorab online veröffentlicht am 24.02.2021
Schlagwörter imaging; lightning; LOFAR; mapping; needles; VHF
Nachgewiesen in Scopus
Dimensions
Web of Science
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