Lightning spectra in the 850- to 1400-nm near-infrared region
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson (USA)
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
- Ball, Systems Engineering Division, Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
Lightning spectra in the 850- to 1400-nm near-infrared region have been recorded with 200- to 300-ms time resolution using a slitless spectrometer with a lead sulfide detector. Except for the wire portion of triggered discharge channels, rocket triggered and natural return stroke spectra are very similar. The following neutral atomic nitrogen (N I) and oxygen (O I) multiplet emissions have been identified (the wavelength, in nanometers, of the brightest line in each group is shown in parentheses): N I(2) (821.6), O I(4) (844.6), N I(1) (868.0), N I(15) (906.1), O I(8) (926.6), N I(7) (939.3), N I(19) (986.2), N I(18) (1011.3), N I(28) (1053.9), and N I(36) (1246.8). Continuum emissions with peak intensities at least an order of magnitude less than the strongest line emissions were detected. A laboratory arc simulation of return stroke discharge produced a near-IR spectrum containing all the features emitted by lightning. Addition N I radiation peaks at 1131.4 nm (N I(17)) and 1358.1 nm on the arc spectra overlapped water vapor absorption bands were not visible on lightning spectra recorded at 2.2-km range. A time-averaged lightning channel temperature of about 16,000{degree}K was calculated from the ratio of relative intensities of the N I(1) and N I(18) multiplets. {copyright} American Geophysical Union 1989
- OSTI ID:
- 5198238
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:D11; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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540110*
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
LEAD COMPOUNDS
LEAD SULFIDES
LIGHTNING
MULTIPLETS
NEAR INFRARED RADIATION
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
RADIATIONS
SIMULATION
SPECTRA
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS