Thor-Davis
High-Speed Imaging of Thunderstorms
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This project will investigate lightning activity at the top of thunderstorm clouds that extend into the stratosphere to better understand the role of thunderstorms on atmosphere dynamics and chemistry. Using a special camera that responds to local changes in brightness, the Thor-Davis cameras can image lightning at up to 100,000 frames per second, giving accurate pictures of what happens during a lightning strike. The proximity of these images taken from the ISS, versus weather satellites in higher orbits, helps investigators get more accurate altitude-related measurements. Other goals from this project include understanding the relationship between electrical activity and convective thunderstorm activity, effect of lightning on atmospheric greenhouse gas composition, and impact of lightning that extends beyond the tops of clouds on greenhouse gas circulation.
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