Analysis of Sprite Activity in Middle Latitudes

Abstract

Sprite activity in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere is analyzed, with the example of the territory of Russia, aiming to facilitate the planning of observational campaigns in the region. The global model previously proposed by the authors is applied, using data from the WWLLN lightning detection network for 2015–2021. It is shown that the total number of sprites per year varies widely, from 394 in 2019 to 2354 in 2015. The most intense sprite activity almost always occurs in July, but in some years, there may be a shift to June (2015) and August (2021). The highest frequency of sprite initiation is observed in the Krasnodar Territory, Altai, and the Far East. Altai shows a high intensity of sprite activity every year, which is caused by the relief and underlying surface, while Krasnodar Territory and the Far East demonstrate sprites developed by incoming convective systems, which leads to high year-to-year variability.

Keywords

• sprite
• high-altitude discharge
• WWLLN