The field strength necessary for the formation of blue jets in the middle atmosphere
The process of formation of blue jets in air at low pressures is simulated using the apokamp discharge. The field strength is measured in the discharge channel. Assuming the applicability of rules of similarity for gas discharge, the field intensity in a storm cloud is assessed during the formation of blue jets. The assessments are from 6 × 1010 to 1.9 × 109 V/m, which is much higher than the values characteristic of the development of cloud-to-ground lightning discharges. A hypothesis is formulated that excess magnitudes of characteristic fields is one of features of high-voltage pulsed discharge within a cloud and causes the formation of blue jets at altitudes of about 12-18 km.