The contribution of anisotropic conductivity in the ionosphere to lightning flash bearing deviations in the ELF/ULF range

Abstract

Lightning flash bearing deviations in the ELF/ULF range are monitored at two independently operating measurement instruments in Hollister, California, and Silberborn, Germany. The lightning flash bearing deviation at Hollister exhibits a rotational dependence ∼12°, associated with the conductivity contrast between the Earth's crust and the nearby Pacific Ocean. The bearing deviations at both stations exhibit a pronounced diurnal local time variation ∼11°. This diurnal variation is attributed to the anisotropic conductivity in the ionosphere during day- and nighttime conditions. No bearing deviation dependency from the source-receiver distance can be distinguished. Correction for the mean rotational dependence at Hollister and the mean diurnal variation at both locations results in residual bearing deviations ∼ ±10° which are related to the variability of anisotropic conductivity in the ionosphere on a subdiurnal time scale. Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union.