Local and Statistical Maps of Lightning-Generated Wave Power Density Estimated at the Van Allen Probes Footprints From the World-Wide Lightning Location Network Database

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Abstract
We propose a new method that uses the World-Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) to estimate both the local and the drift lightning power density at the Van Allen Probes footprints during 4.3 years (~2 \texttimes 108 strokes.). The ratio of the drift power density to the local power density defines a time-resolved WWLLN-based model of lightning-generated wave (LGW) power density ratio, RWWLLN. RWWLLNis computed every ~34 s. This ratio multiplied by the time-resolved LGW intensity measured by the Probes allows direct computation of pitch angle diffusion coefficients used in radiation belt codes. Statistical analysis shows the median power density ratio is urn:x-wiley:00948276:media:grl58808:grl58808-math-0001 over the Americas. Elsewhere, urn:x-wiley:00948276:media:grl58808:grl58808-math-0002 in general. Over oceans, urn:x-wiley:00948276:media:grl58808:grl58808-math-0003 is larger than ~10. urn:x-wiley:00948276:media:grl58808:grl58808-math-1003 varies with season, urn:x-wiley:00948276:media:grl58808:grl58808-math-0083 ~ 2.5 from winter to summer. The yearly-median urn:x-wiley:00948276:media:grl58808:grl58808-math-0004 decays as urn:x-wiley:00948276:media:grl58808:grl58808-math-0005. The strong geographical and temporal variation should be kept in assessing effects in space. RWWLLN > 1 suggests significant LGW effects in the inner belt.
Year of Publication
2019
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
46
Number of Pages
4122-4133
Date Published
03/2019
ISSN Number
0094-8276
URL
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2018GL081146
DOI
10.1029/2018GL081146
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