First results of the ground-based measurements of the IME-HF analyser

The scientific instrument IME-HF is a high frequency electric field analyzer for the future French satellite TARANIS (Tool for the Analysis of Radiation from lightNIngs and Sprites) and is intended to study the little explored phenomena connected with Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) occurring above thunderstorms, as sprites, blue jets, and elves. The observations of these phenomena have been performed from the ground, from aircraft, balloons and from space. It was shown that these discharges can also be accompanied by terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs), X-ray flashes and production of energetic electrons. Observations of electromagnetic radiation in the HF range from space can also provide us with an important piece of information about properties of lightning discharges, mainly in the case of the intra-cloud discharges, which are difficult to detect optically. The satellite will have polar orbit with an altitude of 700km and the mission lifetime should be 2 years. The launch is planned for the beginning of the year 2015.