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Ground detection of terrestrial gamma ray flashes from distant radio signals
Author(s) -
Lyu Fanchao,
Cummer Steven A.,
Briggs Michael,
Marisaldi Martino,
Blakeslee Richard J.,
Bruning Eric,
Wilson Jennifer G.,
Rison William,
Krehbiel Paul,
Lu Gaopeng,
Cramer Eric,
Fitzpatrick Gerard,
Mailyan Bagrat,
McBreen Sheila,
Roberts Oliver J.,
Stanbro Matthew
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl070154
Subject(s) - satellite , thunderstorm , remote sensing , physics , gamma ray , astrophysics , lightning (connector) , latitude , environmental science , astronomy , meteorology , geology , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) are brief bursts of energetic gammy‐ray photons generated during thunderstorms, which have been detected almost exclusively by satellite‐based instruments. Here we present three lines of evidence which includes the three out of three simultaneously observed pairs, the same occurrence contexts, and the consistent estimated occurrence rate, which indicate a direct relationship between a subset of TGFs and a class of energetic radio signal easily detectable by ground‐based sensors. This connection indicates that these gamma ray and radio emissions are two views of the same phenomenon and further enable detection of these TGFs from ground distant radio signals alone. Besides dramatically increasing the detection rate of TGFs, this ground detection approach can identify TGFs in continental and coastal areas that are at latitudes too high for present TGF‐detecting satellites and will provide more insights into the mechanism of TGF production.