NASA USRP - Internship Final Report - Diagnosing the meteorological conditions associated with sprites and lightning with large Change Moment Charges (CMC) over Oklahoma

Sep 11, 2026

The report investigates the meteorological conditions linked to sprites, a class of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs), and to large charge moment change (CMC) lightning over Oklahoma. By combining satellite and radar-retrieved observations with sounding data, forecasts, and lightning-detection networks, the study diagnoses and analyzes storm conditions that support sprites and large-CMC flashes. The work aims to develop practical diagnostics for identifying storms that contain sprites and to improve understanding of possible effects in the 20–100 km atmospheric region.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Methodology

Overview

Radar and satellite imagery

Sounding data

NASA USRP – Internship Final Report Diagnosing the meteorological conditions associated with sprites and lightning with large Change Moment Charges (CMC) over Oklahoma Lizxandra Flores Rivera 1 and Timothy Lang2 1Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez 2NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Abstract Sprites are a category of Transient Luminous Events (TLE’s) that occur in the upper atmosphere above the tops of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) . They are commonly associated with lightning strokes that produce large charge moment changes (CMCs) . Synergistic use of satellite and radar-retrieved observations together with sounding data, forecasts, and lightning-detectionnetworks allowed the diagnosis and analysis of the meteorological conditions associated with sprites as well as large-CMC lightning over Oklahoma. I. Introduction Thunderstorms are precipitating cloud systems that also produce lightning. Thunderstorms drive the global circuit due to the separation, transfer, and neutralization of charges within the storms. The electrical structure of thunderclouds suggests that collisions between graupel, hailstones, and ice crystals in the presence of super cooled liquid water droplets, coupled with differential sedimentation rates of hydrometeors, produce charge separation and subsequent lightning. The exact mechanisms for this type of charging are not completely understood. Some studies have shown that magnitude and sign of charge transfer are dependent on temperature (Takahashi 1978), liquid water (Takahashi 1978) or equivalent liquid water content (Saunders et. al. 1991, Saunders and Brooks 1992), size of ice crystals, impact velocity and contaminants within the hydrometeors (Jayaratne [et. al. 1983](et. al. 1983), Keith and Saunders 1990). However, significant noninductive charging occurs only when large particles are riming (i.e., when precipitation-sized ice fall through a cloud and collides with super-cooled droplets, the liquid water freezes onto them) . There are two principal types of lightning: Intracloud or cloud-to-cloud (IC) and Cloud-toGround (CG) . In a CG stroke, a stepped leader from the cloud ionizes the column of air as the leader moves downward, and when the stepped leader reached the ground return stroke neutralizes the cloud charges. The entire multi-stroke process is collectively termed a flash (Lyons 2006) . Transient Luminous events (TLEs) are optical phenomena that occur in the upper atmosphere. Sprites, one of the most common types of TLE, often are related to lightning strokes within 1 NASA 2013 Session NASA USRP – Internship Final Report Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) . A sprite is characterized by its red color, and occurs primarily due to dielectric breakdown in the mesosphere (80-90km) . Most of the weather experienced day-to-day is associated with the mesoscale, systems with scale lengths of tens to hundreds of kilometers (Ray 1986, Fujita 1992) . MCSs produce a significant fraction of the warm-season rainfall, lightning, and severe weather in the central United States (e.g., [Fritsch et. al. 1986](Fritsch et. al. 1986), Goodman and MacGorman 1986, Houze [et. al. 1990](et. al. 1990)). In this paper we will examine the meteorological conditions associated with the location of large-CMC and spriteparent lightning relative to storm structure. Our specific goal is to develop diagnostics to identify storms which contains sprites. NASA really want to know what kind of interference do sprites makes to aerospace activities in the 20-100km layer. II. Methodology 􀂙 Overview We examine case studies of TLE-producing storms using data from weather radar, satellite, radiosondes, and lightning-detection networks. Understanding these meteorological conditions is important. Studies have shown a clear link between the weather in Earth’s troposphere and the electrodynamic behavior of the mesosphere (between 50 and 80 km altitude) and ionosphere (between

FAQs

What atmospheric phenomenon does the report focus on?

The report focuses on sprites, which are transient luminous events in the upper atmosphere associated with lightning and large charge moment changes.

How are sprites linked to thunderstorms in the study?

Sprites are described as occurring above mesoscale convective systems and being related to lightning strokes that produce large CMCs.

What data sources are used to diagnose sprite-related meteorological conditions?

The study uses weather radar and satellite imagery, atmospheric sounding data (including relative humidity and lifting condensation level), forecasts, and lightning-detection networks.

Sep 11, 2026

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