Observation of Blue Corona Discharges and Cloud Microphysics in the Top of Thunderstorm Cells in Cyclone Fani

Blue corona discharges are often observed at the top of thunderclouds. They are bursts of streamers, but the cloud conditions that enable them are not well known. Here we present observations by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) of 92 discharges during its ∼1 min pass over tropical cyclone Fani in the Bay of Bengal from 20:10:55 to 20:12:05 UTC on 30 April 2019. The discharges were observed in convective cells forming in the rainbands of the cyclone where Convective Available Potential Energy reached ∼6,000 J kg. The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation satellite passed over one of the cells ∼12 min after ASIM from 20:23:58 to 20:24:14 UTC. It measured the cloud microphysics related to the discharges and indicated they occurred in a convection region with the cloud top overshooting for over 20 min. The updraft lifted ice particles to lower stratospheric altitudes and formed the gullwing-shaped cirrus. The discharges are found at an average altitude of ∼16 km where the cloud environment contained ∼2 × 10 m ice particles with ∼50 µm radius, resulting in a photon mean free path of ∼3 m. Around 20% of the blue corona discharges coincide with Narrow Bipolar Events indentified from the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network. Our observations suggest that the overshooting cloud top formed by deep convection and a surge in lightning activity facilitated conditions for the blue corona discharges. This work provides the first-ever estimate of important microphysical parameters related to blue corona discharges based on data measurements, establishing a reference for future empirical and theoretical studies. © 2023. The Authors.This work was supported by Independent Research Fund Denmark (Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond) under Grant agreement 1026-00420B. The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant agreement SAINT 722337. ASIM is a mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and is funded by ESA and by national grants of Denmark, Norway and Spain. The ASIM Science Data Center is supported by ESA PRODEX contracts C 4000115884 (DTU) and 4000123438 (Bergen). With funding from the Spanish government through the "Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2021-001131-S)

VLF Signal Anomalies During Cyclone Activity in the Atlantic Ocean

In this paper we present ionospheric disturbances during the simultaneous presence of two to three Large Meteorological Systems, classified as hurricanes and tropical storms, in the Atlantic Ocean from August to November 2016. The ionospheric disturbances were detected by very low frequency (3–30 kHz) signals from two North American transmitters observed in Algiers (36.75°N, 03.47°E). The results show clear anomalies in the amplitude both at nighttime and at daytime. At nighttime, the anomalies were observed in association with all Large Meteorological Systems even at low stage of storm intensity (tropical depression). The anomalies showed periodicities between 2 and 3 hr with a strong decrease in the signal amplitude. The wave‐like features were confirmed by the mother wavelet analysis of the normalized signal amplitude. These signal anomalies may result from traveling ionospheric disturbances generated by tropical storms and hurricanes associated gravity waves

Observation of Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes at Mid Latitude

We present a sample of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) observed at mid latitudes by the Atmosphere Space Interaction Monitor (ASIM). The events were detected between June 2018 and August 2020 in the latitude bands between 35° and 51° in both hemispheres, which we hereafter refer to as “mid latitudes.” The sample includes the first observations above urn:x-wiley:2169897X:media:jgrd57293:jgrd57293-math-0001 and consists of 14 events clustered in four geographical regions: north-west Atlantic and eastern USA; Mediterranean Sea; the ocean around South Africa; and north-eastern China and Siberia. We examine the characteristics of each event, both standalone and in the context of the global ASIM TGF data set, and we find that our sample is consistent with the global population concerning the number of counts, but shows significantly shorter durations. We analyze the meteorological context and the general evolution of the parent storms and we show that the storms are not extreme in terms of total duration and extension. Whenever possible, we also include the radio sferics and the peak current of the parent stroke. Finally, we present an estimation of the TGF occurrence rate at mid latitudes, based on ASIM's exposure, the local flash rate and tropopause altitude, and we show that it is outside but very close to two standard deviation from the rate of production at tropical latitudes, corrected by the higher atmospheric absorption of higher latitudes. This means that atmospheric absorption plays a major role in the detection of TGFs at mid latitudes, but we cannot rule out other factors.publishedVersio

Relativistic electron beams above thunderclouds

Non-luminous relativistic electron beams above thunderclouds have been detected by the radio signals of low frequency ∼40–400 kHz which they radiate. The electron beams occur ∼2–9 ms after positive cloud-to-ground lightning discharges at heights between ∼22–72 km above thunderclouds. Intense positive lightning discharges can also cause sprites which occur either above or prior to the electron beam. One electron beam was detected without any luminous sprite which suggests that electron beams may also occur independently of sprites. Numerical simulations show that beams of electrons partially discharge the lightning electric field above thunderclouds and thereby gain a mean energy of ∼7 MeV to transport a total charge of ∼−10 mC upwards. The impulsive current ∼3 × 10<sup>−3</sup> Am<sup>−2</sup> associated with relativistic electron beams above thunderclouds is directed downwards and needs to be considered as a novel element of the global atmospheric electric circuit

Focus on high energy particles and atmospheric processes

The letters published in the ‘Focus issue on high energy particles and atmospheric processes’ serve to broaden the discussion about the influence of high energy particles on the atmosphere beyond their possible effects on clouds and climate. These letters link climate and meteorological processes with atmospheric electricity, atmospheric chemistry, high energy physics and aerosol science from the smallest molecular cluster ions through to liquid droplets. Progress in such a disparate and complex topic is very likely to benefit from continued interdisciplinary interactions between traditionally distinct science areas

Spatial coupling of particle and fluid models for streamers: where nonlocality matters

Particle models for streamer ionization fronts contain correct electron energy distributions, runaway effects and single electron statistics. Conventional fluid models are computationally much more efficient for large particle numbers, but create too low ionization densities in high fields. To combine their respective advantages, we here show how to couple both models in space. We confirm that the discrepancies between particle and fluid fronts arise from the steep electron density gradients in the leading edge of the fronts. We find the optimal position for the interface between models that minimizes computational effort and reproduces the results of a pure particle model.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Towards scalable silicon quantum computing

We report the efforts and challenges dedicated towards building a scalable quantum computer based on Si spin qubits. We review the advantages of relying on devices fabricated in a thin film technology as their properties can be in situ tuned by the back gate voltage, which prefigures tuning capabilities in scalable qubits architectures

Calcineurin interacts with the serotonin transporter C-terminus to modulate its plasma membrane expression and serotonin uptake

Homeostasis of serotonergic transmission critically depends on the rate of serotonin reuptake via its plasma membrane transporter (SERT). SERT activity is tightly regulated by multiple mechanisms, including physical association with intracellular proteins and post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, but these mechanisms remain partially understood. Here, we show that SERT C-terminal domain recruits both the catalytic and regulatory subunits of the Ca(2+)-activated protein phosphatase calcineurin (CaN) and that the physical association of SERT with CaN is promoted by CaN activity. Coexpression of constitutively active CaN with SERT increases SERT cell surface expression and 5-HT uptake in HEK-293 cells. It also prevents the reduction of 5-HT uptake induced by an acute treatment of cells with the protein kinase C activator β-PMA and concomitantly decreases PMA-elicited SERT phosphorylation. In addition, constitutive activation of CaN in vivo favors 5-HT uptake in the adult mouse brain, whereas CaN inhibition reduces cerebral 5-HT uptake. Constitutive activation of CaN also decreases immobility in the forced swim test, indicative of an antidepressant-like effect of CaN. These results identify CaN as an important regulator of SERT activity in the adult brain and provide a novel molecular substrate of clinical interest for the understanding of increased risk of mood disorders in transplanted patients treated with immunosuppressive CaN inhibitors