ELF/VLF Observations of Lightning Discharges, Whistler-mode waves and Electron Precipitation at Palmer Station, Antarctica.

本文重点研究了雷暴电动力耦合对地球辐射带电离层参数变化的影响，以及全球雷电对气候的影响。所提出的方案的智力价值在于雷电放电对上覆电离层和辐射带的电动力学耦合的重要性，无论是在雷电引起的电子沉淀方面，还是在由雷电放电产生的能量产生的高空光学和伽马射线发射方面。由闪电发射的哨声波引起的辐射带粒子的降水将被测量为与之相关的电离层低层的局部和瞬态扰动，这些扰动通过对在地球电离层波导中传播的甚低频（VLF）信号的相位和幅度的影响而被远程感知。拟议的研究计划的更广泛的影响将包括发展新的闪电探测技术，在很少的观测点和全球范围内，这些技术可以在农业、航海和其他闪电和雷暴可能影响人类生活的方面为社会造福。拟议中的计划是南极半岛站之间国际合作的一部分，也是斯坦福大学在其他来源支持下在北半球进行的一套类似测量的补充。为了研究观测到的现象的地磁共轭性，需要在两个半球进行协调测量。

This proposal is focused on experimental studies of the thunderstorms electrodynamic coupling to the Earth's radiation belts through the upward lightning flashes that lead to ionospheric parameters variability, and the global lightning effects on climate. The intellectual merit of the proposed program lies in the importance of the electrodynamic coupling of lightning discharges to the overlying ionosphere and the radiation belts, both in terms of lightning-induced electron precipitation, and in terms of high altitude optical and gamma-ray emissions produced by energy originating in lightning discharges. Precipitation of the radiation belt particles by whistler waves launched by lightning discharges will be measured as associated localized and transient disturbances of the lower ionosphere, which are sensed remotely by means of their effect on the phase and amplitude of very low frequency (VLF) signals propagating in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. The broader impacts of the proposed research program will include the development of new technologies of lightning detection, with few observation sites and on a global scale, which can then be implemented for the benefit of society, both in terms of agriculture, navigation and other ways in which lightning and thunderstorms may affect human life. The proposed program is a part of the international collaboration between the Antarctic Peninsula stations, as well as complements a similar set of measurements that are conducted by the Stanford University in the northern hemisphere under support from other sources. Coordinated measurements in both hemispheres are needed to study the geomagnetic conjugacy of the observed phenomena.