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Fast low-level light pulses from the night sky observed with the SKYFLASH programThis paper presents further discussion of and new data on fast subvisual increases in the luminosity of the night sky described in our previous papers. A detailed technical description of the simple telescopic photometers used in the project SKYFLASH and their mode of operation including the detection of polarized Rayleigh-scattered flashes is provided. Distant lightning storms account for many of the events, and the complex relations between short and long luminous pulses with and without sferics are shown by examples from a new computerized data system, supplemented by two low-light-level TV cameras. Of particular interest are the previously observed 'long' events having a slow rise and fall, 20-ms duration, and showing small polarization and no coincident sferic. A group of such events on September 22-23 during the invasion of U.S. coasts by Hurricane Hugo, is discussed in detail. The recently observed 'plume' cloud-top-to-stratosphere lightning event is suggested as a possible source type for these flashes. An alternative source may be exploding meteors, recently identified during SKYFLASH observations by low-light-level television techniques as the origin of some sky-wide flash events described herein.
Document ID
19930057256
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Winckler, J. R.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Franz, R. C.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Nemzek, R. J.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
May 20, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 98
Issue: D5
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A41253
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-90-19839
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-5088
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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