Reconsidering the effectiveness of quasi-static thunderstorm electric fields for whistler duct formation

[1] It has been suggested that E x B mixing of magnetospheric plasma can lead to geomagnetic field-aligned ionization enhancements termed whistler ducts. DC electric fields from thunderstorms have been put forward as the source of the required radial electrostatic field. Recent experimental observations have indicated that quasi-static radial thunderstorm electric fields are not responsible for whistler duct fort-nation. This evidence appears to be in contradiction to the current theoretical calculations. In this paper we reconsider whistler duct formation through quasi-static thunderstorm electric fields. Both the charge distributions and ionospheric profiles previously used are based on rather dated assumptions. We find that more realistic thunderstorm charge distributions in conjunction with the earlier ionospheric profiles produce high-altitude electric fields that are of insufficient strength, given average thunderstorm effective charge, to create dueling within a reasonable time period. This is, however, not confirmed when the same charge distributions are examined using a more modem ionospheric profile based on international standard models for the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere. In this case some charge distributions will lead to realistic whistler duct creation. Our modeling suggests that quasi-electrostatic radial fields from thunderstorms could drive whistler duct formation in some situations.