Open AccessHow Lightning Creates "Killer Electrons" in Earth's Radiation Belts
Author(s) -
Mark von Zastrow
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
eos
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2017eo069129
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , earth (classical element) , van allen radiation belt , astrobiology , radiation , electron , physics , astronomy , nuclear physics , power (physics) , magnetosphere , plasma , quantum mechanics
New calculations show that lightning-triggered plasma waves in Earth's magnetosphere absorb energy from slow particles and energize electrons to levels that can damage satellites severely.