Climatology of Transient Luminous Events and Lightning Observed Above Europe and the Mediterranean Sea

Year: 2020

Authors: Arnone E., Bor J., Chanrion O., Barta V., Dietrich S., Enell C.F., Farges T., Fullekrug M., Kero A., Labanti R., Makela A., Mezuman K., Odzimek A., Popek M., Prevedelli M., Ridolfi M., Soula S., Valeri D., van der Velde O., Yair Y., Zanotti F., Zoladek P., Neubert T.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Torino, Dipartimento Fis, Via Pietro Giuria 1, I-10125 Turin, Italy;‎ CNR, Ist Sci Atmosfera & Clima, Turin, Italy; Hungarian Acad Sci, Res Ctr Astron & Earth Sci, GGI, Sopron, Hungary; Tech Univ Denmark, DTU Space, Lyngby, Denmark; EISCAT Sci Assoc, Kiruna, Sweden; CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France; Univ Bath, Dept Elect & Elect Engn, Bath, Avon, England; Univ Oulu, Sodankyla Geophys Observ, Sodankyla, Finland; IMTN, Bologna, Italy; Finnish Meteorol Inst, Helsinki, Finland; Columbia Univ, Earth & Environm Sci, New York, NY USA; NASA, Goddard Inst Space Studies, New York, NY 10025 USA; Polish Acad Sci, Inst Geophys, Warsaw, Poland; CAS, Inst Atmospher Phys, Dept Space Phys, Stn Nydek, Prague, Czech Republic; Univ Bologna, Dept Phys & Astron, Bologna, Italy; CNR, Ist Nazl Ott, Florence, Italy; Univ Toulouse, Lab Aerol, CNRS, Toulouse, France; Sapienza Univ Roma, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Rome, Italy; Univ Politecn Cataluna, Barcelona, Spain; Interdisciplinary Ctr IDC Herzliya, Sch Sustainabil, Herzliyya, Israel; Bartycka, Comets & Meteors Workshop, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract: In 1999, the first sprites were observed above European thunderstorms using sensitive cameras. Since then, Eurosprite campaigns have been conducted to observe sprites and other transient luminous events (TLEs), expanding into a network covering large parts of Europe and coastal areas. In 2009 through 2013, the number of optical observations of TLEs reached a peak of 2000 per year. Because of this unprecedented number of European observations, it was possible to construct a climatology of 8394 TLEs observed above 1018 thunderstorm systems and study for the first time their distribution and seasonal cycle above Europe and parts of the Mediterranean Sea. The number of TLEs per thunderstorm was found to follow a power law, with less than 10 TLEs for 801 thunderstorms and up to 195 TLEs above the most prolific one. The majority of TLEs were classified as sprites, 641 elves, 280 halos, 70 upward lightning, 2 blue jets and 1 gigantic jet. The climatology shows intense TLE activity during summer over continental areas and in late autumn over coastal areas and sea. The two seasons peak, respectively, in August and November, separated by March and April with almost no TLEs, and a relative minimum around September. The observed TLE activity, i.e. mostly sprites, is shown to be largely consistent with lightning activity, with a 1/1000 of observed TLE-to-lightning ratio in regions with most observations. The overall behaviour is consistent among individual years, making the observed seasonal cycle a robust general feature of TLE activity above Europe.

Journal/Review: SURVEYS IN GEOPHYSICS

Volume: 41 (2)      Pages from: 167  to: 199

KeyWords: Thunderstorms; Lightning; Transient luminous events; Ground-based observations; Europe; Climatology
DOI: 10.1007/s10712-019-09573-5

Citations: 14
data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-11-17
References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)
Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click here
Connecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here