Dataset for "Height Determination of a Blue Discharge Observed by ASIM/MMIA on the International Space Station"

The dataset contains data and code used to determine the height of a blue discharge observed by the Modular Multispectral Imaging Array (MMIA) of the Atmosphere–Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on the International Space Station. It comprises an illustration of the analysis of the meteorology and storm structure, the pace-based optical measurements, the height determination from ground-based electric field measurements, and the estimation of the source altitude from the optical pulse.For details of the methodology used, please see the Measurements section of the associated paper.Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3 can be plotted using the files provided. Figures 4-7, Figure 9 and supporting information Figure S1 are in .fig format. Figure 8 can be plotted using Ncview

Height Determination of a Blue Discharge Observed by ASIM/MMIA on the International Space Station

We analyze simultaneous photometric observations of thundercloud discharges from the Modular Multispectral Imaging Array of the Atmosphere‐Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on board the International Space Station with ground‐based vertical electric field measurements in South Africa on 3 February 2019 at 23:00–23:05 UTC. During this time, ASIM flew over an extended thunderstorm front of several hundreds of kilometers and recorded a blue discharge with the photometer at 337 nm which emitted strong electric fields. It is found that the rising edge of the blue photomultiplier tube light pulse allows the estimation of the blue discharge height: ∼10.9–16.5 km which is constrained by cloud top height in a range of ∼13.3–16.7 km deduced from infrared radiometry on board the geostationary Meteosat satellite. The electric field measurements are used to infer the height of the blue discharge to be ∼16.0–18.8 km by use of skywave arrival times. It is shown that the height determinations are consistent with each other within the measurement uncertainties and the possible presence of an overshooting cloud top is discussed. The height of blue discharges is important to better understand how they can affect the chemistry in the upper troposphere

Enhancing conservation of Australian freshwater ecosystems: identification of freshwater flagship fishes and relevant target audiences

Flagship species, especially mammals and birds, are commonly used to increase awareness of conservation issues in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. However, flagship species oriented programs are often ad hoc with initiatives scarce in the freshwater context. Here, we aim to identify potential flagship candidates that would appeal to a broad cross section of society at a continental scale where freshwater ecosystems are under threat from human impacts. We identified 19 species from a list of 299 Australian freshwater fishes on the basis of body size, trophic guild and threatened species status assuming these characteristics of flagship species are transferable from previous work on terrestrial flagship species. We considered the potential of species to be of international appeal but focused mostly on eight relevant interest groups within Australia. This followed the rationale that public engagement with conservation issues in freshwater systems might be more effective if the link between fish species and the decisions people make were better understood, and we acknowledge the diverging interests of stakeholders. This scoping work contributes towards addressing the challenges of connecting societies to the principles of sharing water resources with ecosystems, and represents the first continental-scale assessment of its kind

Dataset for "Height Determination of a Blue Discharge Observed by ASIM/MMIA on the International Space Station"

The dataset contains data and code used to determine the height of a blue discharge observed by the Modular Multispectral Imaging Array (MMIA) of the Atmosphere–Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on the International Space Station. It comprises an illustration of the analysis of the meteorology and storm structure, the pace-based optical measurements, the height determination from ground-based electric field measurements, and the estimation of the source altitude from the optical pulse