Multi-instrument coincident detection of sprites

This paper describes the instrumentation used for sprite detection during two campaigns near Darwin, Australia, in 1997 and 1998. The sprites (large electrical luminous discharges above thunderstorms) are detected by both 'direct' (optical) and 'indirect' (radio frequency) methods. The optical detectors consist of (i) two intensified video capture systems that are capable of capturing and storing only video frames containing sprites, and (ii) up to four photometers whose outputs are monitored so that only events defined as significant are captured. The radiofrequency detectors consist of (i) four-channel sferic detectors operating in the VLF region and (ii) one or more AbsPAL VLF phase and amplitude loggers. All detectors use GPS receivers for timing reference, which allows post-capture comparison of all events with high accuracy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.