Transfer of Lightning Optical Radiation into Space through the Cloud Layer

Abstract

Mathematical models are developed and simulations are performed of the transport of short optical impulses through the cloud layer into space. The optical and physical vertical depths of the cloud layer are chosen as its main variable parameters. The physical processes of the radiative field formation and its amplitude–time characteristics are studied. It is shown that the presence of a cloud layer results in formation of a secondary source at the upper boundary of a cloud and in considerable distortions of the temporal pattern of the initial impulse.