Decay of a vertical plasma column: A model to explain VLF sprites

Abstract

VLF sprites are identified by high angle scattering of VLF transmissions by the conducting plasma columns which appear as the luminous columns of "red sprites". VLF sprites are "early/fast Trimpis" and probably vice versa. Recently discovered properties of early/fast Trimpis are the logarithmic decay of the amplitude of the scattered signal and monotonic variation of its phase. These properties are explained in terms of scattering from a vertical column or set of columns extending from 50 km (or lower) altitude to about 80 km. Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.