Measurements of Ionizing Radiation Generated in Thunderstorms

Sihver, Lembit; Ploc, Ondřej; Turek, K.; Kákona, Martin; Kákona, Jakub; Šlegl, Jakub; Ambrožová, Iva; Lužová, M.; Величко, Олена Михайлівна; Sommer, Michael; Langer, R. M.

doi:10.1109/aero55745.2023.10115668

Cited by 1 publication

(8 citation statements)

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“…These include high-speed all-sky cameras, radio receivers, meteorological sensors, and more recently, a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) takeoff platform. The UAV platform is used to launch a drone equipped with additional instruments TF-ATMON system [1].…”

Section: Instrumentation and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These neutrons are generated during solar neutron events (SNEs), during which accelerated protons and heavy ions collide and produce neutrons. There are also galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), mainly originating from supernova events outside our solar system [1]. When GCRs and SEPs interact with Earth's atmosphere, they create secondary particles like neutrons, protons, pions, muons, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both empirical measurements and theoretical studies indicate that thunderstorms can act as natural particle accelerators [1,2]. During the thunderstorms, electrons which are traveling at speeds close to the speed of light collide with atmospheric nuclei, releasing energy in the form of X-rays (bremsstrahlung) and gamma rays.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These bursts last for microseconds and occur in sequences separated by hundreds of microseconds, with the entire event lasting up to milliseconds. The gamma rays can further induce photonuclear reactions [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The radiation risk for aircraft crews at flight altitudes is usually evaluated by computer codes that consider only the dose from GCRs [21], verified by measurements by various ionizing radiation detectors [22,23]. However, high-energy phenomena during thunderstorms could also significantly contribute to the radiation dose onboard aircraft [1,24,25]. TGFs might have an important effect on aircraft electronics as theoretically studied in [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How can we simulate ionizing radiation at aviation altitudes from TGFs?

Sihver,

Ploc,

Kákona

et al. 2024

EPJ Web Conf.

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So-called thunderclouds, which are large dark clouds that are able to generate thunder and lightning, can act as natural particle accelerators, producing complex high-energy phenomena such as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) and gamma-ray glows. These events are often described through the mechanism of relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREAs), cascades of high-energy electrons accelerated by atmospheric electric fields. Since the energies of the RREAs are up to several tens of MeV, they can also trigger nuclear reactions with atoms of the air and in the soil while entering the ground. Although these phenomena are intriguing, their lack of precise measurement and still not completely understood origins pose a significant challenge for assessing their impact on aviation safety. This paper introduces the project Research Centre of Cosmic Rays and Radiation Events in Atmosphere (CRREAT), aimed at providing measurements of TGFs, thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs), and other ionizing radiation phenomena during thunderstorms, as well as at aviation altitudes, stratosphere, and low Earth orbits (LEO). The paper argues that without accurate data on the origins and physical characteristics of TGEs and TGFs, it is impossible to reliably simulate their impact on aircraft crews and passengers. The paper also mentions how the general-purpose 3D Monte Carlo (MC) code PHITS can be used for future simulations and comparisons with measurements related to ionizing radiation phenomena in the atmosphere.

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Section: Instrumentation and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%