Transient Luminous Events in the Lower Part of the Atmosphere Originated in the Peripheral Regions of a Thunderstorm

We present and discuss transient luminous events (TLEs) in the lower atmosphere, observed during large disturbances of the near-surface electric fields (NSEF) and coinciding with large enhancements of the particle fluxes (thunderstorm ground enhancements—TGEs). Despite large distances from the stron...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ashot Chilingarian, Gagik Hovsepyan, Tigran Karapetyan, Balabek Sargsyan, Ekaterina Svechnikova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Universe
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/8/412
Description
Summary:We present and discuss transient luminous events (TLEs) in the lower atmosphere, observed during large disturbances of the near-surface electric fields (NSEF) and coinciding with large enhancements of the particle fluxes (thunderstorm ground enhancements—TGEs). Despite large distances from the strongest electric field region, the maximum energy of TGE particles on 22 and 25 May 2018 reaches ≈40 MeV. Thus, the accelerating electric field reaches ≈2.0 keV/cm far from the zone of the strong lightning activity on the periphery of the storm. Light glows appearing simultaneously in the skies may be due to the local charge rearrangement generating a small illuminating discharge without initiating the lightning flash. This type of charge rearrangement does not lower the potential difference in the cloud, allowing the electron accelerator to operate and send particle fluxes in the direction of the earth’s surface.
ISSN:2218-1997