On the relation between the red sprites and the transients in the ELF band

Adriena ONDRÁŠKOVÁ; Sebastián ŠEVČÍK; Pavel KOSTECKÝ; Juraj TÓTH; Róbert KYSEL

doi:10.2478/v10126-010-0006-4

Adriena ONDRÁŠKOVÁ Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University
Sebastián ŠEVČÍK Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University
Pavel KOSTECKÝ Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University
Juraj TÓTH Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University
Róbert KYSEL Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10126-010-0006-4

Keywords: electromagnetic field, ELF, lightning, sprites, Schumann resonances

Abstract

Under favourable conditions sprites appear above large storms. Long continuing
current in tens of ms in the parent +CG stroke radiates electromagnetic energy also
in the Schumann resonance (SR) band. Optical and Extremely Low Frequency (ELF)
observations at the Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory (AGO) near Modra are
analyzed to find these two effects associated with +CG discharges. Since April 2007
dozens of sprites have been captured by automated all-sky TV system at AGO. A majority
(77%) of the optical transient events are accompanied with the transients in the SR
band. No ELF counterparts are found for 23% of the captured sprites. Our observations
are compared with similar observations in Sopron and Nagycenk (NCK). Example of the
optical frames, the associated ELF time plot and the Fourier as well as dynamic spectrum
are presented for one of the events simultaneously observed at AGO and NCK.

Author Biographies

Adriena ONDRÁŠKOVÁ, Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University

Mlynská dolina F-1, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Sebastián ŠEVČÍK, Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University

Mlynská dolina F-1, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Pavel KOSTECKÝ, Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University

Mlynská dolina F-1, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Juraj TÓTH, Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth and Meteorology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University

Mlynská dolina F-1, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovak Republic