Assessing the impact of the lightning on the total electron content of the atmosphere

Atmospheric lightning produces intense electrical discharges that influence the neutral atmosphere and generate a wide spectrum of waves, yet its direct ionospheric impacts remain poorly understood. Using ground-based Lightning Detection Sensor Network (LDSN) observations and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-derived Total Electron Content (TEC) data from multiple Indian stations, we investigate the short-term ionospheric response to lightning occurrences during March – April 2024. Our analysis reveals that fluctuations in detrended TEC (dTEC) exhibit a clear temporal association with lightning-induced current spikes. The observed perturbations range from ~0.052 to ~0.801 TECU, with typical time delays of 02 – 35 minutes between lightning occurrences and corresponding TEC fluctuations. A weak but linear relationship between current intensity and dTEC amplitude suggests that stronger lightning discharges can modulate the ionospheric content. Unlike earlier single-station or event-specific studies, present investigations are novel which use multiple geomagnetic quiet-time cases and quantify the relation between lightning current amplitudes and TEC fluctuations.