A time-dependent quasi-three-dimensional QEF model of red sprites
时变的准三维“红闪”电场模式研究

A quasi-three-dimensional, time-dependent quasi-static electric field (QEF) model is developed and is applied to study the effects of QEF on the mesosphere and subionosphere. Using this model we simulate the evolution of QEF produced by thunderstorm source charges, induced charges and fair weather background charges, and investigate the heating and ionization of the neutral atmosphere by QEF. The results show that considering the influence of the ionosphere potential and fair weather background electric field, the quasi-three-dimensional, time-dependent QEF model is able to simulate the total temporal-space characteristics of Red sprites. Particularly, it can reproduce the upward concave shape of sprite halo.