After my Honours degree I chose to stay in New Zealand and undertake a PhD there. My decision was strongly influenced by a research project I suggested to the academics there in late 1993, and which we began in mid-1994. These signals are particularly interesting as they have been reported after, during, and most importantly before the occurrence of earthquakes. These results may influence the Japanese, French, Russian and Ukrainian Governments, all of whom have discussed launching a dedicated satellite to study this idea. I plan to visit France in July to discuss with French scientists why they are planning to launch a mission in 2001.
Sprites cause variations in the received amplitude and phase of low-frequency radio transmissions.
My theoretical calculations, when combined with experimental observations made by the University of Otago's Department of Physics, indicate that red sprites are made up of multiple columns of plasma. These conclusions should assist in understanding the mechanisms which cause red sprites, and indicates that NASA's concerns about launching rockets over thunderstorms are correct. I was fortunate enough to win the inaugural Hatherton Award from the Royal Society of New Zealand for this work in 1997. I'm working in collaboration with scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, the University of Sheffield, and Southampton University on this problem. I am also continuing with red sprite research, albeit as a side-line.