Why a Second TLE Workshop in Europe?
Following the success of the NATO ASI "Sprites, Elves, and Intense Lightning Discharges"
held at the University of Corsica, Corte, France, 24-31 July 2004, many European initiatives
in lightning related TLEs have developed:
ASIM
(Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor): a monitor to be flown on the external pallet
of the Columbus module, which is one of the European Space Agency contributions to the
International Space Station [ approved by the Human Spaceflight Programme Board in 2003 and
selected by ESA for phase B study in December 2006 ].
- TARANIS
(Tool for the Analysis of RAdiations from lightNIngs and Sprites): a Myriade micro-satellite
project of the French national space programme [ currently under Phase B study ].
- E-CANES (Electromagnetic Coupling of the Atmosphere with Near Earth-Space): European Research
Group (GDRE) project [ has received the agreement to go forward ].
- Camera system was set up on Corsica in summer 2007, so it will also be running in summer 2008.
- In parallel, the four-year EU FP5 funded Research Training Network project
"Coupling of Atmospheric Layers (CAL)"
ended in 2006. An important part of the CAL project were the Eurosprite Campaigns where
information and daily updates were made available at the blog
"Eurosprite Campaign Blog"
set up specifically to cover the Campaigns. Since 2005 this blog has been active each summer and
will continue to be so during upcoming Eurosprite Campaigns.
Other world-wide TLE initiatives such as the
Israeli sprite campaign project
"ILAN"
(Imaging of Lightning And Nocturnal flashes)
complement European initiatives.
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