Interaction of Lightning Electromagnetic Pulses and Electrified Thunderclouds with the Ionosphere

研究人员对对流层雷暴对中层和低电离层区域的非线性电动耦合效应进行了理论研究，其中包括：（1）源于闪电放电的强电磁脉冲（EMP），以及（2）带电雷暴云产生的持久静电场（ES）。 这种耦合产生强烈的修改以上雷暴中间层/低电离层的电导率。 利用雷电电磁脉冲和电介质雷暴云场相互作用的二维和三维电磁模式、辐射传输模式和D区化学模式，他们获得了：（1）关于中间层和低电离层的空间范围和时间动力学的定量信息，这些信息是由雷电电磁脉冲和电介质雷暴云场加热修正的;（2）确定雷暴产生的电磁能量在中间层和低电离层的主要汇;（3）定量评估电磁脉冲和雷暴云ES场对中间层和电离层化学和热平衡的长期影响。

Investigators perform a theoretical study of nonlinear electrodynamic coupling effects of tropospheric thunderstorms to the mesospheric and lower ionospheric regions in (1) intense electromagnetic pulses (EMP), originating in lightning discharges, and (2) long-enduring electrostatic (ES) fields, produced by electrified thunderclouds. Such coupling produces strong modification of conductivity in the mesosphere/lower ionosphere above thunderstorms. Using two and three dimensional electromagnetic models of the lower ionosphere's interaction of lightning EMPs and ES thundercloud fields, radiative transfer models, and D-region chemistry models, they are gaining (1) quantitative information on the spatial extent and temporal dynamics of the mesosphere and lower ionosphere, modified by heating in lightning EMPs and ES thundercloud fields; (2) identification of the dominant sinks in the mesosphere and lower ionosphere for the electromagnetic energy generated by thunderstorms; and (3) quantitative assessment of long-term effects of the EMPs and thundercloud ES fields on the chemical and thermal balance in the mesosphere and ionosphere.