Objective
Lightning is an extremely energetic electric discharge process in our atmosphere. It significantly affects the concentration of greenhouse gases and it threatens electrical and electronic devices, in particular, when placed on elevated structures like wind turbines or aircraft, and when these structures are built with modern composite materials with inherently low electric conductivity. In addition, even our fundamental understanding of atmospheric electricity is far from complete. New discharge processes in the atmosphere above thunderstorms have been discovered, the so-called Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) in the stratosphere and mesosphere, and Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) that emit particle beams of antimatter. These phenomena demand thorough investigations, in geophysics and in the related fields of plasma and high-voltage technology where similar discharges appear.
These challenges are approached within the SAINT project with a multidisciplinary and inter-sectorial training platform for 15 ESRs. The platform brings together satellite and ground observations with modelling and lab experiments. It couples scientific studies to applications relevant to industries developing satellite data products, plasma discharge technologies, lightning detection systems and lightning protection devices.
With SAINT, we take advantage of the extraordinary opportunity presented by three simultaneous space missions with dedicated instruments to study lightning discharges, TLEs and TGFs, to integrate the unique space data with dedicated novel ground observations, model developments and lab experiments. SAINT will train the next generation of young, innovative scientists to shape the future of research and technology in Europe.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringastronautical engineeringspacecraft
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciences
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarecomputer processors
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeophysics
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN - European Training NetworksCoordinator
2800 Kgs Lyngby
Denmark
Participants (9)
BA2 7AY Bath
08034 Barcelona
5020 Bergen
31062 Toulouse Cedex 9
5612 AE Eindhoven
3526 KV Utrecht
28006 Madrid
BS20 7BL Bristol
08223 Terrassa
Partners (9)
20546 Washington
7400 Herning
81377 Munich
5600 MB Eindhoven
31700 Blagnac
Pau
78140 Velizy Villacoublay
35487-0104 Tuscaloosa
18071 Granada