NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Initiation of non-tropical thunderstorms by solar activityA theory of thunderstorm initiation is proposed to account for the statistical correlation between solar activity and thunderstorm occurrence in middle to high latitudes. It is suggested that cosmic ray decreases and/or high-energy solar protons associated with active solar events enhance the electric field at low heights so that, if appropriate meteorological conditions are present during a solar event, the atmospheric electric field enhancement may be sufficient to trigger thunderstorm development. Statistical correlations and atmospheric electric effects are described. The theory could be tested if the possible forcing functions and the responding atmospheric electrical and ionic species' characteristics were measured.
Document ID
19780050117
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Herman, J. R.
(Radio Sciences Co. Melbourne, Fla., United States)
Goldberg, R. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Upper Atmosphere Branch, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1978
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics
Volume: 40
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
78A34026
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-20819
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available