TARANIS—A Satellite Project Dedicated to the Physics of TLEs and TGFs

• DOI: 10.1007/s11214-008-9414-4
• Publication Date: 2008-07-18T09:16:38Z
• Authors: Francois Lefeuvre; Elisabeth Blanc; Jean-Louis Pinçon; Robert Roussel-Dupré; David Lawrence; Jean-André Sauvaud; Jean-Louis Rauch; Hervé de Feraudy; Dominique Lagoutte
• Keywords: [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]; 0207 environmental engineering; 02 engineering and technology; [SDU.ASTR] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Lightning induced Electron Precipitation (LEPs); 7. Clean energy; Lightning; Runaway electron Beams (RBs); Transient Luminous Events (TLEs); [SDU] Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes (TGFs); [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; 13. Climate action; Earth environment

TARANIS “Tool for the Analysis of RAdiations from lightNIngs and Sprites” is a CNES satellite project dedicated to the study of impulsive transfers of energy between the Earth atmosphere and the space environment. Such impulsive transfers of energy, identified by the observation at ground and in space (rocket, balloons, FORMOSAT 2 satellite) of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) and the detection on satellites (CGRO, RHESSI) of Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes (TGFs), are likely to occur in other astrophysical environments as well. The TARANIS mission and instrumentation is presented. The way the TARANIS programme (associated ground-based and balloon-based measurements included) may answer questions about the physics of TLEs and TGFs is examined. The questions addressed include: TLEs and TGFs source regions, associated phenomena, transfers of energy between the radiation belts and the atmosphere, TLEs and TGFs generation mechanisms, input parameters to the modelling of the variation of the atmosphere and the electric circuit.