Contribution of amateur observations to Saturn storm studies

Abstract

Since 2004, Saturn Electrostatic Discharges (SEDs), which are the radio signatures of lightning in Saturn's atmosphere, have been observed by the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument (RPWS). Despite their important time coverage, these observations lack the resolution and positioning given by imaging around visible wavelengths. Amateur observations from Earth have been increasing in quality and coverage since a few years, bringing information on positions, drift rates and shape evolutions of large visible white spots in Saturn's atmosphere. Combining these two complementary sources has brought better analysis of Saturn's storms evolutions.