OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS OF SPRITES, BLUE JETS, AND ELVES: INFERRED MICROPHYSICAL PROCESSES AND THEIR MACROPHYSICAL IMPLICATIONS

摘要: During the past decade, several new upper atmospheric phenomena associated with thunderstorms have been discovered. The four main types of optical emissions are now called sprites, blue jets, elves, and halos. Sprites primarily red appear between 40-95 km altitude last 1-100 ms. dominant sprite emission is molecular nitrogen first positive band, a relatively low energy also observed in lower borders aurorae. total output bright on order 50 kJ. Based spectral observations, vibrational electronic deposited oxygen atmosphere 250 MJ-1 GJ. Blue jets hundreds milliseconds span altitudes 15-40 km. Spectral observations not obtained to date. Elves, third type above thunderstorms, at 75-95 km, lasting one millisecond or less. Elves halos similar phenomena, but distinct based duration. Halos typically 3-6 ms occur than elves. This dissertation describes spectrum sprites by University Alaska Fairbanks during summer campaigns 1995, 1996, 1998, its implication understanding electrodynamics middle atmosphere. single most significant result determination that typical deposits up gigajoule into mesosphere. These forms electrical coupling from tropospheric stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere/ionosphere may critical implications for global chemistry budgets these regions.