Journal article
A statistical study of whistler waves observed by Van Allen Probes (RBSP) and lightning detected by WWLLN
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.121(3), pp.2067-2079
03/01/2016
DOI: 10.1002/2015JA022010
Abstract
Lightning-generated whistler waves are electromagnetic plasma waves in the very low frequency (VLF) band, which play an important role in the dynamics of radiation belt particles. In this paper, we statistically analyze simultaneous waveform data from the Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes, RBSP) and global lightning data from the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN). Data were obtained between July to September 2013 and between March and April 2014. For each day during these periods, we predicted the most probable 10min for which each of the two RBSP satellites would be magnetically conjugate to lightning producing regions. The prediction method uses integrated WWLLN stroke data for that day obtained during the three previous years. Using these predicted times for magnetic conjugacy to lightning activity regions, we recorded high time resolution, burst mode waveform data. Here we show that whistlers are observed by the satellites in more than 80% of downloaded waveform data. About 22.9% of the whistlers observed by RBSP are one-to-one coincident with source lightning strokes detected by WWLLN. About 40.1% more of whistlers are found to be one-to-one coincident with lightning if source regions are extended out 2000km from the satellites footpoints. Lightning strokes with far-field radiated VLF energy larger than about 100J are able to generate a detectable whistler wave in the inner magnetosphere. One-to-one coincidences between whistlers observed by RBSP and lightning strokes detected by WWLLN are clearly shown in the L shell range of L=1-3. Nose whistlers observed in July 2014 show that it may be possible to extend this coincidence to the region of L >= 4.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A statistical study of whistler waves observed by Van Allen Probes (RBSP) and lightning detected by WWLLN
- Creators
- Hao Zheng - University of WashingtonRobert H. Holzworth - Earth and Space ResearchJames B. Brundell - UltraMSK, Dunedin, New ZealandAbram R. Jacobson - Earth and Space ResearchJohn R. Wygant - University of MinnesotaGeorge B. Hospodarsky - University of IowaForrest S. Mozer - University of California, BerkeleyJohn Bonnell - University of California, Berkeley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.121(3), pp.2067-2079
- Publisher
- Amer Geophysical Union
- DOI
- 10.1002/2015JA022010
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- NA10OAR4320148 / NOAA; National Oceanic Atmospheric Admin (NOAA) - USA RUG1-7084-PA-13 / CRDF 1443011 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2016
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455549602771
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