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Relativistic electron avalanches as a thunderstorm discharge competing with lightning

Author

Listed:
  • Nicole A. Kelley

    (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way)

  • David M. Smith

    (University of California)

  • Joseph R. Dwyer

    (University of New Hampshire)

  • Michael Splitt

    (Florida Institute of Technology)

  • Steven Lazarus

    (Florida Institute of Technology)

  • Forest Martinez-McKinney

    (University of California)

  • Bryna Hazelton

    (University of Washington)

  • Brian Grefenstette

    (Space Radiation Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

  • Alexander Lowell

    (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way)

  • Hamid K. Rassoul

    (Florida Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Gamma-ray ‘glows’ are long duration (seconds to tens of minutes) X-ray and gamma-ray emission coming from thunderclouds. Measurements suggest the presence of relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREA), the same process underlying terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. Here we demonstrate that glows are relatively a common phenomena near the tops of thunderstorms, when compared with events such as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. Examining the strongest glow measured by the airborne detector for energetic emissions, we show that this glow is measured near the end of a downward RREA, consistent with occurring between the upper positive charge layer and the negative screening layer above it. The glow discharges the upper positive layer by ≥9.6 mA, strong enough to be an important charging mechanism of the storm. For this glow, the gamma-ray flux observed is close to the value at which relativistic feedback processes become important, with an avalanche multiplication factor of 4,500.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole A. Kelley & David M. Smith & Joseph R. Dwyer & Michael Splitt & Steven Lazarus & Forest Martinez-McKinney & Bryna Hazelton & Brian Grefenstette & Alexander Lowell & Hamid K. Rassoul, 2015. "Relativistic electron avalanches as a thunderstorm discharge competing with lightning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8845
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8845
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