A Ground-Based Campaign in Search of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes Associated with Thunderclouds and Lightning

Details A Ground-Based Campaign in Search of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes Associated with Thunderclouds and Lightning A Ground-Based Campaign in Search of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes Associated with Thunderclouds and Lightning

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufmae33b0302s&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #AE33B-0302

Physics

[3324] Atmospheric Processes / Lightning

Scientific paper

Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) are intense bursts of gamma-rays first observed from space using the BATSE instrument onboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Recent measurements from the RHESSI spacecraft, along with modeling, show that these flashes most likely originate from altitudes between 15 and 21 km, making it difficult to detect such events on the ground due to atmospheric attenuation. However, in 2004, Dwyer et al. reported a gamma-ray burst at ground level during the initial stage of a rocket-triggered lightning that had a similar energy spectrum and time duration to TGFs. These results suggest that the processes that produce TGFs may also occur at lower altitudes within thunderclouds, beamed downwards instead of upwards like TGFs observed from space, making it possible to observe such events on the ground. In 2009, we launched a ground campaign to search for such TGF-like gamma-ray events during thunderstorms in coordination with ADELE (Airborne Detector for Energetic Lightning Emissions) which flew onboard the NSF/NCAR GV and was later used in the ground observation. A flat plate antenna to measure dE/dt along with scintillator/PMT detectors to measure gamma-ray emissions were mounted in a SUV, which was then driven into the active regions of thunderstorms. Radiosonde measurements to study the atmospheric conditions during the campaign were also performed . A high-speed Photron camera was used to capture any optical phenomena that might be observed. In this presentation, we report initial results from the September 2009 campaign.

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