The SPARTAN Sprite-Watch is a training programme for SPARTAN fellows in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester. The aim of the programme is to provide the opportunity for young researches to develop skills in team building, communication and management by implementing an observational campaign.
The observations are made to capture high-altitude luminous phenomena occurring over thunderstorms, collectively called the Transient Luminous Events (TLEs). Sprites are most commonly observed phenomena among the TLEs family. The EU FP5 Research Training Network ''Coupling of Atmospheric Layers'' (CAL) carried European TLEs research in 2002-2006. The EuroSprite observational campaigns, run by the CAL in 2005 and 2006, in addition to being an important part of the research undertaken during the project were a central part of the training for the young scientists working in the network. Similar training opportunity is now presented to the SPARTAN fellows.
The SPARTAN campaign is a contribution to the European campaign continued by former participants of the CAL project and other researchers. The aim of the programme is also to extend observations to those regions in Europe where the TLEs occurrences are expected but the observations have not been made so far.
Contact
Sprite-Watch campaign coordinator - Anna Odzimek, E-mail: ao64@ion.le.ac.uk
SPARTAN training coordinator - Enrico Arnone, E-mail: e.arnone@ion.le.ac.uk (at the University of Bologna since April 2007)