Recovering of the energy spectra of electrons and gamma rays coming from the thunderclouds

Atmospheric Research

Volumn 114-115, Issue , 2012, Pages 1-16

  Chilingarian, Ashot ^a   Mailyan, Bagrat ^a   Vanyan, Levon ^a  

^a YEREVAN PHYSICS INSTITUTE   (Armenia)

Author keywords

Atmospheric electricity; Lightning; Thunderclouds

Indexed keywords

COSMIC RAY BACKGROUND; ENERGETIC ELECTRON; ENERGY RANGES; ENERGY SPECTRA; HIGH-ENERGY ELECTRON; RECOVERED ENERGY; STRONG ELECTRIC FIELDS; THUNDERCLOUDS;

ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRONS; LIGHTNING; SPECTROSCOPY; THUNDERSTORMS;

GAMMA RAYS;

ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY; ELECTRIC FIELD; ELECTRON; ENERGY; GAMMA RAY RADIATION; LIGHTNING; SPECTRUM; THUNDERCLOUD; THUNDERSTORM;

EID: 84861807767     PISSN: 01698095     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2012.05.008     Document Type: Article

References (60)

1. Aglietta M., et al. The EAS-TOP array at E0=1014-1016eV: stability and resolutions. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 1989, 277:23-28. EAS-TOP Collaboration.
2. Agnsotelli S., Allison J., Amako K., et al. GEANT4-a simulation toolkit. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 2003, 506:250-303.
3. Alexeenko V.V., Khaerdinov N.S., Lidvansky A.S., Petkov V.B. Transient variations of secondary cosmic rays due to atmospheric electric field and evidence for pre-lightning particle acceleration. Phys. Lett. A 2002, 301:299-306. 10.1016/S0375-9601(02)00981-7.
4. Babich L.P., Bochkov L.I., Kutsyk I.M., Roussel-Dupre R.A. Localization of the source of terrestrial neutron bursts detected in thunderstorm atmosphere. J. Geophys. Res. 2010, 115:A00E28.
5. Babich L.P., Bochkov E.I., Kutzyk I.M. Lightning initiation mechanism based on the development of relativistic runaway electron avalanches triggered by background cosmic radiation: numerical simulation. Russ. J. JETF 2011, 139:1028-1036.
6. Briggs M.S., Fishman G.J., Connaughton V., et al. Electron-positron beams from terrestrial lightning observed with Fermi GBM. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2011, 38:L02808.
7. Carlson B.E., Lehtinen N.G., Inan U.S. Constraints on terrestrial gamma ray flash production from satellite observation. J. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2008, 34:L08809.
8. Carlson B.E., Lehtinen N.G., Inan U.S. Terrestrial gamma ray flash production by lightning current pulses. J. Geophys. Res. 2009, 114:A00E08. 10.1029/2009JA014531.
9. Celectin S., Pasko V.P. Energy and fluxes of thermal runaway electrons produced by exponential growth of streamers during the stepping of lightning leaders and in transient luminous events. J. Geophys. Res. 2011, 116(A03315):14. 10.1029/2010JA016260.
10. Chilingarian A., Reymers A. Investigations of the response of hybrid particle detectors for the Space Environmental Viewing and Analysis Network (SEVAN). Ann. Geophys. 2008, 26:249-257.
11. Chilingarian A., Avagyan K., Babayan V., et al. Aragats Space-Environmental Center: status and SEP forecasting possibilities. J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 2003, 29:939-952.
12. Chilingarian A., Arakelyan K., Avakyan K., et al. Correlated measurements of secondary cosmic ray fluxes by the Aragats Space-Environmental Center monitors. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 2005, 543(2-3):483-496.
13. Chilingarian A., Daryan A., Arakelyan K., et al. Ground-based observations of thunderstorm-correlated fluxes of high-energy electrons, gamma rays, and neutrons. Phys. Rev. D 2010, 82:043009.
14. Chilingarian A., Hovsepyan G., Hovhannisyan A. Particle bursts from thunderclouds: natural particle accelerators above our heads. Phys. Rev. D 2011, 83:062001.
15. Chilingaryan S., Chilingarian A., Danielyan V., Eppler W. The Aragats data acquisition system for highly distributed particle detecting networks. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2008, 119:082001.
16. Chilingaryan S., Beglarian A., Kopmann A., Voekling S. Advanced data extraction infrastructure: web based system for management of time series data. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2010, 219:042034.
17. Cui H., Qie X., Zhang Q., Zhang T., Zhang G., Yang J. Intracloud discharge and the correlated basic charge structure of a thunderstorm in Zhongchuan, a Chinese Inland Plateau region. Atmos. Res. 2009, 91:425-429.
18. Cummer S.A., Zhai Y., Hu W., Smith D.M., Lopez L.I., Stanley M.A. Measurements and implications of the relationship between lightning and terrestrial gamma ray flashes. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2005, 32:L08811. 10.1029/2005GL022778.
19. Cummer S.A., Lu G., Briggs M.S., Connaughton V., Xiong S., Fishman G.J., Dwyer J.R. The lightning-TGF relationship on microsecond timescales. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2011, 38:L14810. 10.1029/2011GL048099.
20. De Souza P.E., Pinto O., Pinto I.R.C.A., Ferreira N.J., Dos Santos A.F. The intracloud/cloud-to-ground lightning ratio in Southeastern Brazil. Atmos. Res. 2009, 91:491-499. 10.1016/j.atmosres.2008.06.011.
21. Dorman L.I., Dorman I.V. Possible influence of cosmic rays on climate through thunderstorm clouds. Adv. Space Res. 2005, 35:476-483.
22. Dwyer J.R. A fundamental limit on electric fields in air. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2003, 30:2055.
23. Dwyer J.R. Implications of X-ray emission from lightning. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2004, 31:L12102. 10.1029/2004GL019795.
24. Dwyer J.R. The initiation of lightning by runaway air breakdown. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2005, 32:L20808.
25. Dwyer J.R. Relativistic breakdown in planetary atmospheres. Phys. Plasmas 2007, 14:042901.
26. Dwyer J.R. The relativistic feedback discharge model of terrestrial gamma ray flashes. J. Geophys. Res. 2012, 117:A02308. 10.1029/2011JA017160.
27. Dwyer J.R., Smith D.M. A comparison between Monte Carlo simulations of runaway breakdown and terrestrial gamma-ray flash observations. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2005, 32:L08811.
28. Fishman G., Bhat P.N., Malozzi R., et al. Discovery of intense gamma-ray flashes of atmospheric origin. Science 1994, 264:1313-1316.
29. Gurevich A.V., Milikh G.M., Roussel-Dupre R. Runaway electron mechanism of air breakdown and preconditioning during a thunderstorm. Phys. Lett. A 1992, 165:463-468.
30. Gurevich A., Zybin K., Roussel-Dupre R. Lightning initiation by simultaneous effect of runaway breakdown and cosmic ray showers. Phys. Lett. A 1999, 254:79-87.
31. Gurevich A.V., Mitko G., Antonova V., et al. An intracloud discharge caused by extensive atmospheric shower. Phys. Lett. A 2009, 373(39):3550-3553.
32. Khaerdinov N.S., Lidvansky A.S., Petkov V.B. Cosmic rays and the electric field of thunderclouds: evidence for acceleration of particles (runaway electrons). Atmos. Res. 2005, 76:346-354.
33. Lehtinen N.G., Bell T.F., Inan U.S. Monte Carlo simulation of runaway MeV electron breakdown with application to red sprites and terrestrial gamma ray flashes. J. Geophys. Res. 1999, 104(A11):24,699-24,712.
34. Lidvansky A.S., Khaerdinov N.S. Strong variations of cosmic ray muons during thunderstorms. Izv. Ross. Akad. Nauk, Ser. Fiz. 2009, 73:415-417. [Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Physics 73, 400 (2009)].
35. Lu G., Blakeslee R.J., Li J., Smith D.M., Shao X.-M., McCaul E.W., Buechler D.E., Christian H.J., Hall J.M., Cummer S.A. Lightning mapping observation of a terrestrial gamma-ray flash. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2010, 37:L11806. 10.1029/2010GL043494.
36. Lu G., Cummer S.A., Li J., Han F., Smith D.M., Grefenstette B.W. Characteristics of broadband lightning emissions associated with terrestrial gamma ray flashes. J. Geophys. Res. 2011, 116:A03316. 10.1029/2010JA016141.
37. Moss G.D., Pasko V.P., Liu N., Veronis G. Monte Carlo model for analysis of thermal runaway electrons in streamer tips in transient luminous events and streamer zones of lightning leaders. J. Geophys. Res. 2006, 111:A02307. 10.1029/2005JA011350.
38. Muraki Y., Axford W.I., Matsubara Y., et al. Effects of atmospheric electric fields on cosmic rays. Phys. Rev. D 2004, 69:123010.
39. Nag A., Rakov V.A. Some inferences on the role of lower positive charge region in facilitating different types of lightning. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2009, 36:L05815. 10.1029/2008GL036783.
40. Pawar S.D., Kamra A.K. Evolution of lightning and the possible initiation/triggering of lightning discharges by the lower positive charge center in an isolated thundercloud in the tropics. J. Geophys. Res. 2004, 109:D02205.
41. Pinto O., Pinto I.R.C.A., Naccarato K.P. Maximum cloud-to-ground lightning flash densities observed by lightning location systems in the tropical region: a review. Atmos. Res. 2007, 84:189-200.
42. Qie X., Zhang T., Chen C., Zhang G., Zhang T., Kong X. Electrical characteristics of thunderstorms in different plateau regions of China. Atmos. Res. 2009, 91:244-249.
43. Sato T., Endo A., Zanki M., Petoussi-Henss N., Niita K. Fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients for neutrons and protons calculated using the PHITS code and ICRP/ICRU adult reference computational phantoms. Phys. Med. Biol. 2009, 54:1997.
44. Schonland B.F.J. Thunder-storms and the penetrating radiation. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 1930, 130:37.
45. Schonland B.F.J., Viljoen J.P.T. On a penetrating radiation from thunderclouds. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 1933, 140:314.
46. Shao X.M., Hamlin T., Smith D. A closer examination of terrestrial gamma-ray flash-related lightning processes. J. Geophys. Res. 2010, 115:A00E30. 10.1029/2009JA014835.
47. Shaw G.E.J. Cosmic count increase associated with thunderstorms. Geophys. Res. Bull. 1967, 72:4623.
48. Standler R.B., Winn W.P. Effects of coronae on electric field beneath thunderstorms. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc. 1979, 105:285-302.
49. Stanley M., Shao X.M., Smith D., et al. A link between terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and intracloud lightning discharges. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2006, 33:L06803. 10.1029/2005GL025537.
50. Stolzenburg M., Marshall T.C., Rust W.D. Electrical structure in thunderstorm convective regions 2. Isolated storms. J. Geophys. Res. 1998, 103:14079.
51. Torii T., Takeishi M., Hosono T. Observation of gamma-ray dose increase associated with winter thunderstorm and lightning activity. J. Geophys. Res. 2002, 107:4324. 10.1029/2001JD000938.
52. Torii T., Sugita T., Tanabe S., Kimura Y., Kamogawa M., Yajima K., Yasuda H. Gradual increase of energetic radiation associated with thunderstorm activity at the top of Mt. Fuji. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2009, 36:L13804. 10.1029/2008GL037105.
53. Torii T., Sugita T., Kamogawa M., et al. Migrating source of energetic radiation generated by thunderstorm activity. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2011, 38:L24801. 10.1029/2011GL049731.
54. Tsuchiya H., Enoto T., Yamada S., et al. Detection of high-energy gamma rays from winter thunderclouds. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2007, 99:165002.
55. Tsuchiya H., Enoto T., Torii T., et al. Observation of an energetic radiation burst from mountain-top thunderclouds. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2009, 102:255003.
56. Tsuchiya H., Enoto T., Yamada S., et al. Long-duration gamma ray emissions from 2007 and 2008 winter thunderstorms. J. Geophys. Res. 2011, 116:D09113. 10.1029/2010JD015161.
57. Vernetto S. The EAS counting rate during thunderstorms. Proceedings of the 27th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC) (Copernicus Gesellschaft, Hamburg, Germany, 2001), 10 2001, 4165-4168. for EAS-TOP Collaboration.
58. Wentz J., Brancus I.M., Bercuci A., Heck D., Oehlschlager J., Rebel H., Vulpescu B. Simulation of atmospheric muon and neutrino fluxes with CORSIKA. Phys. Rev. D 2003, 67:073020.
59. Williams E.R. The tripole structure of thunderstorms. J. Geophys. Res. 1989, 94:13151-13167.
60. Wilson C.T.R. The acceleration of b-particles in strong electric fields such as those of thunderclouds. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 1925, 22:534-538. 10.1017/S0305004100003236.