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Characteristics of luminous structures in the stratosphere above thunderstorms as imaged by low-light videoAn experiment was conducted in which an image-intensified, low-light video camera systematically monitored the stratosphere above distant (100-800 km) mesoscale convective systems over the high plains of the central U.S. for 21 nights between 6 July and 27 August 1993. Complex, luminous structures were observed above large thunderstorm clusters on eleven nights, with one storm system (7 July 1993) yielding 248 events in 410 minutes. Their duration ranged from 33 to 283 ms, with an average of 98 ms. The luminous structures, generally not visible to the naked, dark-adapted eye, exhibited on video a wide variety of brightness levels and shapes including streaks, aurora-like curtains, smudges, fountains and jets. The structures were often more than 10 km wide and their upper portions extended to above 50 km msl.
Document ID
19950033087
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Lyons, Walter A.
(Testing and Environmental Research (ASTeR), Inc. Ft. Collins, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
May 15, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 21
Issue: 10
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
95A64686
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS10-11974
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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