Simultaneous Observations of Mesospheric Gravity Waves and Sprites Generated by a Midwestern Thunderstorm

摘要

The present report investigates using simultaneous observations of coincident gravity waves and sprites to establish an upper limit on sprite- associated thermal energy deposition in the mesosphere. The University of Alaska operated a variety of optical image's and photometers at two ground sites in support of the NASA Sprites99 balloon campaign. One site was atop a US Forest Service lookout tower on Bear Mt. in the Black Hills, in western South Dakota. On the night of 18 August 1999 we obtained from this site simultaneous images of sprites and OH airglow modulated by gravity waves emanating from a very active Sprite producing thunderstorm over Nebraska, to the Southeast of Bear Mt. Using 25 s exposures with a bare CCD camera equipped with a red filter, we were able to coincidentally record both short duration.