TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer
Abstract Terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) and other high‐energy radiation phenomena related to thunderstorms remain incompletely understood since their discovery nearly 30 years ago. Space and ground‐based platforms have provided insights, but limitations exist in temporal resolution, signal‐to‐...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Earth and Space Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003317 |
| _version_ | 1827338513268342784 |
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| author | Christopher Helmerich Todd McKinney Everett Cavanaugh Sarah Dangelo |
| author_facet | Christopher Helmerich Todd McKinney Everett Cavanaugh Sarah Dangelo |
| author_sort | Christopher Helmerich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) and other high‐energy radiation phenomena related to thunderstorms remain incompletely understood since their discovery nearly 30 years ago. Space and ground‐based platforms have provided insights, but limitations exist in temporal resolution, signal‐to‐noise ratios, and proximity to events. This study presents findings from a balloon‐borne gamma‐ray spectrometer flown into a thunderstorm over northern Mississippi on 19 June 2023. The instrument detected three distinct millisecond‐duration TGF events correlated with lightning strikes. Sustained gamma‐ray glows lasting up to 2 minutes were measured and tied to thunderstorm electrostatic fields. Notably, radiation was observed during a direct lightning strike to the payload. This complex 800‐millisecond event reveals insights into radiation from leader propagation and return strokes. These findings from a single balloon flight demonstrate the prevalence of energetic processes within thunderstorms. Finally, the balloon platform offered an exceptional combination of temporal resolution and validation capabilities to advance the understanding of thunderstorm radiation motivating future follow‐up studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:16:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-038df6523a4d4ea39b00c9a327006e1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-5084 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:16:43Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth and Space Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-038df6523a4d4ea39b00c9a327006e1f2024-02-29T13:15:57ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Earth and Space Science2333-50842024-02-01112n/an/a10.1029/2023EA003317TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray SpectrometerChristopher Helmerich0Todd McKinney1Everett Cavanaugh2Sarah Dangelo3The University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USAThe University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USAThe University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USAThe University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USAAbstract Terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) and other high‐energy radiation phenomena related to thunderstorms remain incompletely understood since their discovery nearly 30 years ago. Space and ground‐based platforms have provided insights, but limitations exist in temporal resolution, signal‐to‐noise ratios, and proximity to events. This study presents findings from a balloon‐borne gamma‐ray spectrometer flown into a thunderstorm over northern Mississippi on 19 June 2023. The instrument detected three distinct millisecond‐duration TGF events correlated with lightning strikes. Sustained gamma‐ray glows lasting up to 2 minutes were measured and tied to thunderstorm electrostatic fields. Notably, radiation was observed during a direct lightning strike to the payload. This complex 800‐millisecond event reveals insights into radiation from leader propagation and return strokes. These findings from a single balloon flight demonstrate the prevalence of energetic processes within thunderstorms. Finally, the balloon platform offered an exceptional combination of temporal resolution and validation capabilities to advance the understanding of thunderstorm radiation motivating future follow‐up studies.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003317terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs)high‐energy radiationballoon‐borne instrumentlightninggamma‐ray glowgamma‐ray spectrometer |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Helmerich Todd McKinney Everett Cavanaugh Sarah Dangelo TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer Earth and Space Science terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) high‐energy radiation balloon‐borne instrument lightning gamma‐ray glow gamma‐ray spectrometer |
| title | TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer |
| title_full | TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer |
| title_fullStr | TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer |
| title_full_unstemmed | TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer |
| title_short | TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer |
| title_sort | tgfs gamma ray glows and direct lightning strike radiation observed during a single flight of a balloon borne gamma ray spectrometer |
| topic | terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) high‐energy radiation balloon‐borne instrument lightning gamma‐ray glow gamma‐ray spectrometer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003317 |
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