Remote Sensing of Radio Emission from Convective Clouds including Transmission via Sporadic E

Narrow band slices have been taken of the radio emission spectrum from convective clouds in the frequency range from 30 mc./sec. to 550 mc./sec. and a t 7.5 kc./sec. to monitor long and short range lightning discharges. Despite the careful choice of the bands to avoid interference from manmade sources, a major problem is the identification of spurious noise. I n spite of these interferences, radiation apparently associated with growing convective clouds has been observed from a n aircraft. The number of discharges per km.2 per scc. observed at the different frequencies is a function of receiver sensitivity, suggesting that “atmospherics” vary greatly in spectral intensity. The number of discharges observed generally exceeds previous estimates. A relation between the occurrence of sporadic E and major thunderstorm precipitation areas is reported and evaluated in light of previous observations of the similar rclationships. Together, the concepts suggest a linkage between strong solar flare activity and anomolous thunderstorm rainfall.