Study on the Lightning-radaited Electric Field Components at Mesospheric Altitudes

In this paper we have extended the semi-analytical model presented by Yashunin et al.to compute both of the lightning vertical and horizontal electric field considering the effect of nonlinear atmospheric electric parameters,and validate its accuracy by using our 2-D FDTD method.It is noted that the semi-analytical model can predict not only the lightning vertical field,but also the horizontal electric field with a satisfied accuracy in a small region with a radius ranging from 5 to 30 km at a height from 80 to 90 km above the lightning strike point.Compared with the results in the free space with a vacuum,the conducting altitude atmosphere has a relatively little effect on the radiated field component,but it has much effect on the electrostatic and induction component because their duration times are longer than the local relaxation time.For example,the induction field component in the conducting nonlinear medium decreases by about 43%,compared with that in the free space with a vacuum.The induction field is larger than the radiation field component within a radius of 25 km at a height of 80 km above the lightning strike point.Therefore,although the induction component may be likely one extra energy source(except for the radiation field)for creating the pancake shape of some elves with a luminous central part,we have to take into account the effect of nonlinear atmospheric electric parameters on the prediction of induced field component peak value that is needed for the production of elves.