Collaborative Research: Observations of Gamma Emissions and Electric-Field Changes in and above Thunderstorms during STEPS

计划于2000年初夏在堪萨斯州西部进行的严重雷暴电气化和降水研究野外计划(STEPS)将使用飞机、雷达和其他观测系统提供雷暴及其周围的广泛观测。作为步骤的一部分，伊克博士和他的合作伙伴俄克拉荷马大学的威廉·比斯利博士将发射气球，这些气球配备了特殊的仪器，可以测量雷暴以内和略高于雷暴的高度的伽马射线(和X射线)和电场的短期波动。他们还将安排在南达科他州T-28装甲机上安装伽马射线探测器。这项研究的目标是：(1)检验在雷暴上空中层大气中观测到的包括精灵、精灵和蓝色急流在内的瞬变发光事件(TLE)的产生假说；(2)检验雷暴内通过失控电子过程产生韧致辐射的假说；(3)评估闪电引发和回击的模型。数据分析将与国家科学基金会支持的其他STEPS项目密切协调，包括新墨西哥州理工学院闪电测图仪(ATM-9912073)、寒风雷达(ATM-9912051和9982030)、南达科他州装甲机(ATM-9981175)、气球电场探测(ATM-9912562)和热释光目视观测(ATM-0000569)。

The Severe Thunderstorm Electrification and Precipitation Study field program (STEPS), planned for the early summer of 2000 in western Kansas, will provide a wide range of observations in and around thunderstorms using aircraft, radar, and other observing systems. As part of STEPS, Dr. Eack and his Co-PI Dr. William Beasley of the University of Oklahoma will launch balloons that are equipped with special instruments to measure gamma rays (and x-rays) and short-term fluctuations in the electric field at altitudes within and just above thunderstorms. They will also arrange for a gamma-ray detector to be flown on the South Dakota T-28 armored aircraft. Objectives of the research are (1) to test hypotheses for the production of transient luminous events (TLEs) including sprites, elves, and blue jets, which are observed at altitudes in the middle atmosphere above thunderstorms; (2) to test hypotheses for the production of bremsstrahlung radiation within thunderstorms by runaway electron processes; (3) to evaluate models for lightning initiation and return strokes. Data analysis will be closely coordinated with other NSF-supported STEPS projects, including the New Mexico Tech lightning mapper (ATM-9912073), the CHILL radar (ATM-9912051 and -9982030), the South Dakota armored aircraft (ATM-9981175), balloon soundings of the electrical field (ATM-9912562), and visual observations of TLEs (ATM-0000569).