Replicating stratospheric lightning phenomena (Jets) within the laboratory

最近发现的罕见闪电现象包括平流层中的喷流(巨型喷气式、蓝色喷气式、蓝色启动型)。它们被归因于NASA运营的少数高空无人飞行器的故障，并可能干扰远程通信。它们的强度和频率被认为随着全球变暖而增加，它们很可能会导致温室气体排放，如臭氧、COX和NOx。喷气式飞机在自然界中天生就很难研究，这个项目旨在通过在实验室环境中复制它们来克服这一点。将设计和建造一个新的环境舱，以复制地球大气(大气成分、压力、温度)10至50公里的范围。还将开发分析燃烧室内电击穿和电弧特性的方法，包括高速摄影、纹影成像、发射光谱和气相色谱。在此项目之后，将寻求与英国大学网络(可能是布里斯托尔大学、巴斯大学、埃克塞特大学、雷丁大学)进行进一步的投资，以开展关于喷气形成、对自然和建成环境的风险以及对温室气体排放的贡献的全面研究。卡迪夫大学将贡献与环境舱相关的费用，所有传感器和诊断都免费提供给该项目。请求提供资金以支持一名为期九个月的研究助理。

Recent discoveries of rare lightning phenomena include Jets (Gigantic Jets, Blue Jets, Blue Starters) in the Stratosphere. They are attributed to the failure of a small number of NASA operated high-altitude unmanned vehicles and can interfere with long-range communications. Their intensity and frequency are thought to increase with Global Warming, and it is likely that they contribute towards greenhouse gas emissions, such as O3, COx and NOx.Jets are inherently difficult to study in nature, and this project aims to overcome this by replicating them within a laboratory environment. A novel environment chamber will be designed and built to replicate the Earth's atmosphere (atmospheric composition, pressure, temperature) between 10 and 50 km. Methods of analysing electrical breakdown and arc properties within the chamber will also be developed, to include high speed photography, schlieren imaging, emission spectroscopy, and gas chromatography.Following this project, further investment will be sought with a network of UK universities (possibly Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Reading) to carry out comprehensive research into Jet formation, risks to the natural and built environment, and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.Cardiff University will contribute costs associated with the environment chamber, and all sensors and diagnostics are provided to the project at no charge. Funding is requested to support a nine-month Research Associate.