Implications of Multiple Corona Bursts in Lightning Processes for Radio Frequency Interferometer Observations

Recent observations from LOFAR indicate that multiple, spatially distributed corona bursts can occur in lightning processes with a timescale of 10 microseconds. The close proximity of the corona bursts in space and time poses a great observation challenge for short‐baseline (typically ≤100 m) radio interferometers. This paper reports simulations to show the interferometry results that would be obtained with such an interferometer. In particular, spatially‐separated corona bursts at fixed locations may be seen as a fast (>107 m/s) propagating source with large power variation if the resolution of the instrument is greater than the spatial separation of the bursts. The implications and suggestions for lightning interferometry studies are discussed in the paper.

[1]  J. Dwyer,et al.  LOFAR Observations of Lightning Initial Breakdown Pulses , 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.

[2]  S. Cummer,et al.  Quantification of Electric Fields in Fast Breakdown During Lightning Initiation From VHF‐UHF Power Spectra , 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.

[3]  S. Buitink,et al.  Interferometric imaging of intensely radiating negative leaders , 2021, Physical Review D.

[4]  P. Krehbiel,et al.  Electrostatic Conditions That Produce Fast Breakdown in Thunderstorms , 2021, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

[5]  S. Cummer,et al.  VHF Radio Spectrum of a Positive Leader and Implications for Electric Fields , 2021, Geophysical Research Letters.

[6]  J. Dwyer,et al.  Distinguishing features of high altitude negative leaders as observed with LOFAR , 2021 .

[7]  S. Buitink,et al.  Time resolved 3D interferometric imaging of a section of a negative leader with LOFAR , 2021, Physical Review D.

[8]  J. Dwyer,et al.  Thunderstorm High‐Frequency Radio Bursts With Weak Low‐Frequency Radiation , 2020, Geophysical Research Letters.

[9]  S. Cummer,et al.  Lightning Initiation From Fast Negative Breakdown is Led by Positive Polarity Dominated Streamers , 2020, Geophysical Research Letters.

[10]  B. Dingus,et al.  Lightning Interferometry Uncertainty, Beam Steering Interferometry, and Evidence of Lightning Being Ignited by a Cosmic Ray Shower , 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

[11]  Tokyo,et al.  Observations of the Origin of Downward Terrestrial Gamma‐Ray Flashes , 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

[12]  J. Dwyer,et al.  Radio Interferometer Observations of an Energetic in‐Cloud Pulse Reveal Large Currents Generated by Relativistic Discharges , 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

[13]  J. Dwyer,et al.  Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum of a Composite System. , 2020, Physical review letters.

[14]  J. Dwyer,et al.  The initial stage of cloud lightning imaged in high-resolution , 2020, 2007.03934.

[15]  J. Dwyer,et al.  Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps. , 2020, Physical review letters.

[16]  S. Cummer,et al.  Needles and Lightning Leader Dynamics Imaged with 100–200 MHz Broadband VHF Interferometry , 2019, Geophysical Research Letters.

[17]  J. Dwyer,et al.  Fast negative breakdown in thunderstorms , 2019, Nature Communications.

[18]  J. Dwyer,et al.  Needle-like structures discovered on positively charged lightning branches , 2019, Nature.

[19]  S. Cummer,et al.  Lightning Initiation Processes Imaged With Very High Frequency Broadband Interferometry , 2019, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

[20]  J. Dwyer,et al.  VHF and UHF Electromagnetic Radiation Produced by Streamers in Lightning , 2019, Geophysical Research Letters.

[21]  M. Caffrey,et al.  Broadband RF Interferometric Mapping and Polarization (BIMAP) Observations of Lightning Discharges: Revealing New Physics Insights Into Breakdown Processes , 2018, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

[22]  Ting Wu,et al.  Fast positive breakdown in lightning , 2017 .

[23]  Ningyu Liu,et al.  Properties of relatively long streamers initiated from an isolated hydrometeor , 2016 .

[24]  Yang Zhang,et al.  Observations of narrow bipolar events reveal how lightning is initiated in thunderstorms , 2016, Nature Communications.

[25]  M. Stock,et al.  Continuous broadband digital interferometry of lightning using a generalized cross‐correlation algorithm , 2014 .

[26]  Thomas C. Marshall,et al.  On the percentage of lightning flashes that begin with initial breakdown pulses , 2014 .

[27]  Dongfang Wang,et al.  Lightning VHF radiation location system based on short-baseline TDOA technique — Validation in rocket-triggered lightning , 2013 .

[28]  Vladimir A. Rakov,et al.  Analysis of microsecond- and submicrosecond-scale electric field pulses produced by cloud and ground lightning discharges , 2009 .

[29]  R. O. Schmidt,et al.  Multiple emitter location and signal Parameter estimation , 1986 .

[30]  B. G. Clark.  An efficient implementation of the algorithm 'CLEAN' , 1980 .

[31]  E. J. Workman,et al.  NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY , 2021 .

[32]  J. Tilles.  Broadband radio mapping and imaging of lightning processes , 2020 .