Form 442 Question Experimentation Description

0004-EX-ML-2016 Text Documents

Board of Trustees, University of Florida

2016-01-05ELS_171005

This research effort aims to perform electromagnetic observations of the long distance effects of
lightning. We are investigating the effects of both natural and rocket-triggered lightning on the
ionosphere (60-300 km altitude). Natural lightning occurs often in Florida, so we expect to make
immediate use of the radio sounder. We also conduct rocket-triggered lightning experiments at
the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, Florida.
Rocket-triggered lightning provides a unique opportunity to perform high resolution
measurements of the effects of lightning, primarily because we know when and where we will
launch the rocket (at Camp Blanding).

The digisonde consists of a ~100-foot tower with an antenna at the top. Several small receiving
antennas are placed a short distance away from the tower. The entire system requires ~1 acre of
space. The digisonde currently broadcasts short bursts of radio waves between 1 and 10 MHz
and listens for the radio echoes as the waves reflect from the ionosphere. The system is used to
quantify the electron density of the ionosphere as a function of altitude between ~100 and 300
km. We expect that thunderstorms and lightning will produce changes in electron density at these
altitudes, and we aim to prove it using this instrument. The digisonde is remotely operable. It is
connected to power and Internet. The general mode of operation will be for the digisonde to
perform on ionospheric scan per hour. During thunderstorms over Florida, scans will be
performed more frequently.

Document Created: 2016-01-05 13:01:22
Document Modified: 2016-01-05 13:01:22

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