Journal article
High‐Spatiotemporal Resolution Observations of Jupiter Lightning‐Induced Radio Pulses Associated With Sferics and Thunderstorms
Geophysical research letters, Vol.47(15), e2020GL088397
08/16/2020
DOI: 10.1029/2020GL088397
Abstract
Jupiter lightning discharges produce various kinds of phenomena including radio wave pulses at different frequencies. On 6 April 2019, the Juno Waves instrument captured an extraordinary series of radio pulses at frequencies below 150 kHz on timescales of submilliseconds. Quasi‐simultaneous multi‐instrument data show that the locations of their magnetic footprints are very close to the locations of ultrahigh frequency (UHF) sferics recorded by the Juno MWR instrument. Hubble Space Telescope images show that the signature of active convection includes cloud‐free clearings, in addition to the convective towers and deep water clouds that were also recognized in previous spacecraft observations of lightning source regions. Furthermore, the detections of 17 very low frequency/low‐frequency (VLF/LF) radio pulses suggest a minimum duration of lightning processes on the order of submilliseconds. These observations provide new constraints on the physical properties of Jupiter lightning.
Plain Language Summary
Jupiter lightning illuminates clouds and produces a strong pulse at radio wavelengths. Juno's radio observatory (consisting of two onboard instruments) in a broad radio range made several detections of extraordinary radio pulses on 6 April 2019. The high‐temporal observations of such radio pulses detected below 150 kHz indicate variations of the lightning related processes on the order of submilliseconds. Observations of these radio pulses and direct lightning‐induced radio emissions at 600 MHz come from the same area, very close to deep water clouds detected by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in the Jovian atmosphere. The coordinated Juno‐HST lightning observations provide a new way of understanding the lightning processes and lightning source regions associated with the cloud features at Jupiter.
Key Points
First common observations of VLF/LF radio pulses, UHF sferics, and thunderstorms were carried out using Juno and the Hubble Space Telescope
New high‐time resolution measurements of radio pulses associated with Jovian lightning processes resolve submillisecond variations
Cloud structure with juxtaposed deep water clouds, convective towers, and clearings is the signature of active convection
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- High‐Spatiotemporal Resolution Observations of Jupiter Lightning‐Induced Radio Pulses Associated With Sferics and Thunderstorms
- Creators
- Masafumi Imai - University of IowaMichael H. Wong - Search for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceIvana Kolmašová - Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric PhysicsShannon T. Brown - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryOndřej Santolík - Charles UniversityWilliam S. Kurth - University of IowaGeorge B. Hospodarsky - University of IowaScott J. Bolton - Southwest Research InstituteSteven M. Levin - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.47(15), e2020GL088397
- DOI
- 10.1029/2020GL088397
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- NASA (699041X; NAS 5‐26555)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/16/2020
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455366302771
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