A statistical analysis on the relationship between thunderstorms and the sporadic E Layer over Rome
Meteorological processes (cold fronts, mesoscale convective complexes, thunderstorms) in the troposphere can generate upward propagating waves in the neutral atmosphere affecting the behaviour of the ionosphere. One type of these waves are the internal atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) which are ofte...
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Published in | Astronomische Nachrichten Vol. 334; no. 9; pp. 968 - 971 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Berlin
WILEY-VCH Verlag
01.11.2013
WILEY‐VCH Verlag Wiley Subscription Services, Inc |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Meteorological processes (cold fronts, mesoscale convective complexes, thunderstorms) in the troposphere can generate upward propagating waves in the neutral atmosphere affecting the behaviour of the ionosphere. One type of these waves are the internal atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) which are often generated by thunderstorms. Davis & Johnson (2005) found in low pressure systems that a localized intensification of the sporadic E layer (Es) can be attributed to lightnings. To confirm this result, we have performed two different statistical analysis using the time series of the critical frequency (foEs), the virtual height of the sporadic E layer (h'Es), and meteorological observations (lightnings, Infrared maps) over the ionospheric station of Rome (41.9° N, 12.5° E). In the first statistical analysis, we separated the days of 2009 into two groups: stormy days and fair‐weather days, then we studied the occurrence and the properties of the Es separately for the two different groups. No significant differences have been found. In the second case, a superposed epoch analysis (SEA) was used to study the behaviour of the critical frequency and virtual height 100 hours before and after the lightnings. The SEA shows a statistically significant decrease in the critical frequency after the time of the lightnings, which indicates a sudden decrease in the electron density of the sporadic E layer associated with lightnings. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) |
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Bibliography: | ArticleID:ASNA201211972 istex:A0F7D298D8325961094C45FF1B95073B690B434F European Social Fund in the framework of TÁMOP 4.2.4. A/2-11-1-2012-0001 'National Excellence Program' European Union and the State of Hungary ark:/67375/WNG-XKGZSB58-5 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0004-6337 1521-3994 |
DOI: | 10.1002/asna.201211972 |