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Gradual increase of energetic radiation associated with thunderstorm activity at the top of Mt. Fuji
Author(s) -
Torii Tatsuo,
Sugita Takeshi,
Tanabe Sachiko,
Kimura Yoshihisa,
Kamogawa Masashi,
Yajima Kazuaki,
Yasuda Hiroshi
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1029/2008gl037105
Subject(s) - bremsstrahlung , thunderstorm , physics , lightning (connector) , radiation , electron , photon , electric field , atmospheric sciences , nuclear physics , atomic physics , environmental science , meteorology , optics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Fluctuations of energetic radiation that seemed to be caused by a summer thunderstorm were observed at the top of Mt. Fuji. The largest of such fluctuations was gradual and lasted for about 20 minutes, and was found to be high‐energy gamma rays having a continuous energy spectrum up to 10 MeV or more. As for the feature of these fluctuations, it seems naturally that such fluctuations are caused by the bremsstrahlung photons generated by the energetic electrons produced continuously with an intense electric field in the thundercloud rather than originated in the process of lightning discharge.