Underlying Physical Mechanisms in Upward Positive Flashes
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866913928959754240 |
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| author | Oregel-Chaumont, Toma Šunjerga, Antonio Kasparian, Jérôme Rubinstein, Marcos Rachidi, Farhad |
| author_facet | Oregel-Chaumont, Toma Šunjerga, Antonio Kasparian, Jérôme Rubinstein, Marcos Rachidi, Farhad |
| contents | This study presents the first observation of a mixed mode of charge transfer during an upward positive flash, which was initiated from the Säntis Tower in Switzerland. High-speed camera footage, along with current and electric field measurements, revealed a downward-propagating recoil leader connecting to the grounded current-carrying plasma channel at a junction height of < 1 km above the tip of the tower. This event triggered the "return stroke"-like main pulse associated with Type 1 upward positive flashes, leading us to propose a mixed mode of charge transfer (normally observed in upward negative flashes) as the physical mechanism at play. Furthermore, the observed `Main pulse' shared characteristics with both mixed-mode and M-component-type initial continuous current (ICC) pulses, challenging existing classification criteria, and supporting the notion of a unique mode of charge transfer with a range of junction length-dependent pulse characteristics, as opposed to two distinct modes. The recoil leader itself was accompanied by a sequence of fast electric field pulses indicative of step-like propagation, also an observational first. These findings contribute to improving our understanding of the mechanisms of charge transfer in upward lightning flashes. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_08110 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Underlying Physical Mechanisms in Upward Positive Flashes Oregel-Chaumont, Toma Šunjerga, Antonio Kasparian, Jérôme Rubinstein, Marcos Rachidi, Farhad Plasma Physics Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics Geophysics This study presents the first observation of a mixed mode of charge transfer during an upward positive flash, which was initiated from the Säntis Tower in Switzerland. High-speed camera footage, along with current and electric field measurements, revealed a downward-propagating recoil leader connecting to the grounded current-carrying plasma channel at a junction height of < 1 km above the tip of the tower. This event triggered the "return stroke"-like main pulse associated with Type 1 upward positive flashes, leading us to propose a mixed mode of charge transfer (normally observed in upward negative flashes) as the physical mechanism at play. Furthermore, the observed `Main pulse' shared characteristics with both mixed-mode and M-component-type initial continuous current (ICC) pulses, challenging existing classification criteria, and supporting the notion of a unique mode of charge transfer with a range of junction length-dependent pulse characteristics, as opposed to two distinct modes. The recoil leader itself was accompanied by a sequence of fast electric field pulses indicative of step-like propagation, also an observational first. These findings contribute to improving our understanding of the mechanisms of charge transfer in upward lightning flashes. |
| title | Underlying Physical Mechanisms in Upward Positive Flashes |
| topic | Plasma Physics Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics Geophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.08110 |