Space-based observations of lightning will be only one of dozens of topics covered at at the Atmospheric Electricity Conference. S everal papers will be presented on sprites, the tantalizing flashes of light that dance high over the tops of storm, seemingly into space. While the physics of this phenomenon is not understood, it is possible that sprites play important roles in the global electrical circuit and upper atmospheric chemistry. Other papers will cover the 3-dimensional structure of lightning, the physics of charge generation and lightning initiation, and studies of lightning variations with weather phenomena such as El Nino. Sessions will be dedicated to lightning characteristics, lightning detection and protection, thunderstorm characteristics, fair weather electricity, global lightning and lightning chemistry.
Scientists discuss biology, safety, and statistics of lightning strikes.
Poster papers on hurricanes and tornadoes summarized. Thunderstorms generate elusive and mysterious sprites. Preview of the 11th International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity. More Space Science Headlines - NASA research on the web NASA's Earth Science Enterprise Information on Earth Science missions, etc.