Another means of exciting the ionosphere?

[Kevin Rock]

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2009/08/Lightning-s-mirror-image,-but-much-bigger/

This article mentions an electrical field effect which can reach into the ionosphere.  Maybe a good thunderstorm is enough to excite the ionosphere, at least locally.  Since the excitation is from below instead of above, the lower layers would absorb more than the solar excitation processes.  An interesting experiment would be to test propagation along many paths on each band right after a strong thunderstorm in one's area.  If the sun is not offering enough energy in its current state maybe a good Midwestern thunderstorm could provide an alternative excitation process we can use to enhance our chances of making more distant contacts.
   Kevin.  KD5ONS


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[Ken Kopp-3]

These upward-running bolts, first noted by the shuttle and
orbiter crews are also known as "sprites".  There is a school
of thought that the ionization of the ionosphere by these
upward-running bolts of lightening may ... at least in part ...
account for the somewhat unexplained sporadic-E propagation.

There also seem to be instances of signals being reflected
by the ionized lightning bolt paths, much like meteor scatter
or aircraft reflections.

Google "Red sprites and blue jets" for additional information.

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
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