GOS-Taiwan

Ground Observation of Sprites in Taiwan

H.T. Su, R.R. Hsu, A.B. Chen and J.L. Chern

NCKU ISUAL Team, Physics Dept., NCKU Taiwan

L.C. Lee

NSPO, Taiwan

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Observation Area

Coveragesouthern and eastern China,

northern Luzon island, and any

areas within a radius of 1000km

Observation postsAli Mtn Weather Station (2413m)

Lulin Observatory (2868m)

NCKU (50m)

O-luan Pi (60m)

(23.5 N; 120 E)

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InstrumentCCD

Watech902H (auto gain)Neptune 100 (manual gain)720x480 pixels30 frames/sec

LensNikon 300mm/f2.8Nikon 50mm/f1.8Sigma 20mm/f1.8

RecorderSony DCR-PC5 DV

FOV13.8° x 18.5° (20mm)5.4° x 7.4° (50mm)0.9° x 1.2° (300mm)

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The parental thunderstorms-Guandong

Two moderate storms in the eastern Guandong Providence, China, with sizes of 150km x 150km. By 20:00 UT, the S1 storm was reduced to 100km x 100km

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The Guandong sprites

For the land sprites, carrot and C sprites account for 90% of the sprites observed.

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The parental storm-Taitung

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The Taiwan sprites

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The Taiwan sprites

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The Taiwan sprites

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The Taiwan sprites

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The Taiwan sprites

The sea sprites have strange forms and have sizezs much smaller than the land sprites.

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The Philippines sprites (~600km)

Typhoon Chebi (category 3), moonless night, ~600km?

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Space/ground coordinated observations of sprites

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Outlooks

• Year-round sprites campaign in Taiwan

Are there any characteristic differences between land and sea sprites?

Are there any characteristic differences between sprites observed at different season?

• Join MEIDEX mission for hand-on experience in space/ground coordinated observation of sprites