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Directory with daily AVI files and here is the TRIGGERS logfile

Interesting links: DAVIS weather station in Loiano and Loiano webcam (via Roma)

Starting from April 2013 a MINTRON MTV-12V6H-EX-R B&W camera equipped with TAMRON 12VG412ASIR optics is operating from the roof of the 152cm telescope building at Loiano observatory (Lat. 44º 15' 33" N Long. 11º 20' 02" E 785 m a.s.l.). The camera is mounted on a fixed clamp. To know the pointing direction look at this PDF file. The main objective of the experiment is to contribute to detection and geo-location of Sprites and other Transient Luminous Events (TLEs, see the EuroSprite webpage and links therein). The camera interfaces with a PC running a software for detection of the frames affected by TLEs. This software is a modification by DIFA and DCI (University of Bologna) of the original version (c) 2004 by Thomas H. Allin (tha@oersted.dtu.dk). The time distance between subsequent frames is 20ms. The Sprite-Watching system operates only during the dark hours, in sunlight conditions the camera is operated as a webcam (see image above).

Here are some examples of TLEs detected with the Loiano Sprite-Watching system:

• Sprite event on 21 May 2013 at 23:30:51.26 GMT+2 (avi movie)

• Sprite event on 24 May 2013 at 00:47:10.87 GMT+2 (avi movie)

• Sprite event on 13 July 2013 at 22:49:55.30 GMT+2 (avi movie)

• 4 sprite events on 22 July 2013 (avi movie)

• 4 sprite events on 29 July 2013 (avi movie)

• 8 August 2013 (2 sprites)

• 10 August 2013 (1 weak sprite)

• 3 September 2013 (falling bolis)

• 11 September 2013 (1 sprite)

• 29 October 2013 (2 sprites)

• 9 November 2013 (several sprites!)

• 20 November 2013 (6 sprites + owl)

• 8 February 2014 (2 sprites)

• More TLE movies

Sprite-related publications form the group operating the Sprite-Watching system at University of Bologna:

• E. Arnone, E.A. Kero, B.M. Dinelli, C.-F. Enell, N.F. Arnold, E. Papandrea, C.J. Rodger, M. Carlotti, M. Ridolfi, E. Turunen, Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO2., Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L05807, (2008).

• E. Arnone, A. Kero, C.-F. Enell, M. Carlotti, Craig J. Rodger, E. Papandrea, N. F. Arnold, B. M. Dinelli, M. Ridolfi, E. Turunen, Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO2: latitude and time variations., Plasma Sources Science and Technology,18(3) 034014 (2009).

• E. Arnone, E., Bór, J., Chanrion, O. et al. Climatology of Transient Luminous Events and Lightning Observed Above Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Surv Geophys 41, 167-199 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-019-09573-5

Last update: 15 March 2022 by M.Ridolfi