Open AccessExploring High‐Energy Phenomena in Earth's Atmosphere
Author(s) -
Chilingarian Ashot A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1002/2013eo500004
Subject(s) - thunderstorm , atmosphere (unit) , space weather , ionosphere , physics , electron , earth's magnetic field , particle acceleration , magnetosphere , van allen radiation belt , geomagnetic storm , atmospheric sciences , geophysics , meteorology , environmental science , nuclear physics , magnetic field , plasma , quantum mechanics
The study of high‐energy phenomena in the atmosphere provides unique information about particle acceleration and multiplication in the lower and upper atmosphere during thunderstorms. Generation and propagation of large fluxes of electrons, positrons, gamma rays, and neutrons in the atmosphere and in near space are related to the development of thunderstorms and may be used for monitoring dangerous consequences of extreme weather. Electromagnetic emissions connected with thunderstorms trigger various dynamic processes in the Earth's magnetosphere, causing global geomagnetic storms and changing electrodynamics properties of the ionosphere. The large fluences of energetic electrons, photons, and neutrons produced by runaway electron avalanches can potentially be a danger to aircraft crews, passengers, and onboard electronic systems.