Optical and VLF Imaging of Lightning-Ionosphere Interactions

This work addresses some of the key topics of space physics research recommended in the National Research Council 2003 report “A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics”, namely, the thunderstorm-driven electrodynamic coupling between the troposphere, mesosphere, lower ionosphere, and magnetosphere. Lightning-induced electron precipitation encompasses all of these regions, from atmospheric and mesospheric electrodynamics, to radiation belt scattering, to precipitation and disturbances of ionospheric communication channels. Furthermore, observation of direct lightningionospheric coupling mechanisms can lead to the understanding of ion chemical dynamics in the upper-mesosphere, and lower-ionosphere, including determination of ambient electron density profiles and unknown chemical interaction parameters. Sprites and their possible conjugate effects due to relativistic electrons also constitute a coupling between the regions, including lightning effects on the mesosphere and ionosphere. Geomagnetic disturbances highlight the coupling between these regions, with the resulting perturbations in the magnetosphere and ionosphere easily detectable.