Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes Can Be Detected With Radio Measurements of Energetic In-Cloud Pulses During Thunderstorms

Many of the details of how terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) are produced, including their association with upward-propagating in-cloud lightning leader channels, remain poorly understood. Measurements of the low-frequency radio emissions associated with TGF production continue to provide unique views and key insights into the electrodynamics of this process. Here we report further details on the connection between energetic in-cloud pulses (EIPs) and TGFs. With coordinated measurements from both ground-based radio sensors and space-based gamma-ray detectors on the Fermi and Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager spacecraft, we find that all ten +EIPs that occurred within the searched space-and-time window are associated with simultaneous TGFs, including two new TGFs that were not previously identified by the gamma-ray measurements alone. The results in this study not only solidify the tight connection between +EIPs and TGFs, but also demonstrate the practicability of detecting a subpopulation of TGFs with ground-based radio sensors alone.

Duke Scholars

Author Steven A. Cummer Electrical and Computer Engineering