Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => General Weather - all topics not current severe weather. => Topic started by: Mike on 23 December 2006, 09:18:28 PM

Title: Lightning activity caused by the sun's solar activity
Post by: Mike on 23 December 2006, 09:18:28 PM

 ???
Saw a documentary on Discovery channel where one scientist has the view (with facts) that storm and lightning activity goes hand in hand with solar winds from the sun bombarding our atmosphere which actually influences lightning activity.  The theory is that with solar winds bombarding the ozone layer there is actually 'holes' within our atmosphere that fluctuate at certain times and allows the sun's solar winds to penetrate the earth, thus causing a chain reaction within developing storm systems to produce lightning.  It seems that it's not just the meterological phenomena that we all know of that produces lightning discharges, but it is in direct corrorlation with soalr winds.

I suppose a good example is that everyone knew lightning discharges from the base of a cloud, but now there's proof of lightning occurring above the cloud of up to 30km into space - so is the theory right that the sun has a much greater affect on storms than we first thought?

Title: Re: Lightning activity caused by the sun's solar activity
Post by: David C on 24 December 2006, 04:40:01 AM

Perhaps this theory relates more specifically to high altitude lightning (sprites, blue jets, elves etc). I don't think things are so complex in the troposphere: untable airmass --> thunderstorms --> lightning. Once a storm develops, however, then it is plausible that interactions with cosmic rays and the subsequent effects on the magnetosphere are related to high altitude lightning. Then again what do I know about this  :-X  ;D

Title: Re: Lightning activity caused by the sun's solar activity
Post by: Dave Nelson on 24 December 2006, 05:21:56 AM

   Good thoughts Dave :)

whilst we are on the subject of high altitude atmospheric phenonema. 
a couple of sites to check out for some other thoughts...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2713891.stm   
  X-rays and other hi energy particles  have been confirmed being emitted by lightning discharges

and

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3917137.stm
  some info on Sprites, Jets and Elves 

and

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1871297.stm
   an older article relating to blue jets reaching higher than previously thought

This part of atmospheric studies has always been fascinating to me
First learnt of the phenonema during my university physics studies in the 1980's
During those years I also built a VLF (very low frequency) receiver to listen to and record
atmospheric noises such as 'whistlers'.

cheers
Dave N