Multi-parametric analysis of thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGE) and associated gamma-ray emissions on Mount Hermon, Israel

IF 8 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Science of the Total Environment Pub Date : 2025-07-03 DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179988

Nadav Mauda , Yoav Yair , Yuval Reuveni

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Abstract

Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements (TGEs), sometimes referred to as gamma-ray glows, are transient increases in surface-level gamma-ray flux driven by thunderstorm electric fields. This study investigates two TGE events observed on January 4–6 and January 14, 2018, at the Emilio Segre Cosmic-Ray Observatory on Mount Hermon in northern Israel. Both cases were under rain-free conditions, thus excluding radon washout effects. Gamma-ray counts, vertical electric field strength, neutron flux, and lightning data were continuously monitored, enabling a detailed analysis of possible TGE mechanisms. Both TGEs exhibited significant gamma-ray enhancements coinciding with electric field fluctuations. The January 4–6 event displayed a higher intensity (peak 3500 cpm) and longer duration than the January 14 event (peak 1600 cpm). While gamma-ray enhancements were accompanied with negative electric fields, an exception was observed on January 14, where a positive electric field coincided with increased gamma-ray counts, likely due to a dominant lower positive charge region (LPCR) of the thundercloud near the mountain. Spearman correlation analysis revealed substantial differences in the relationships between gamma rays, neutron flux, and atmospheric pressure during TGEs compared with fair weather conditions. Notably, the decay of gamma-ray counts followed a prolonged exponential trend with a mean half-life time of 54.05 min, strongly suggesting a significant contribution from radon progeny lifted and suspended by storm-induced circulation, along with Modification of Spectra (MOS) as a secondary gamma-ray production mechanism through the acceleration process. Lightning discharges, while present, showed no direct correlation with gamma-ray enhancements, reinforcing the dominant role of thunderstorm electric fields in TGE production. This study provides additional insights into TGE mechanisms, emphasizing the influence of electric field dynamics and cloud charge structures. These findings highlight the importance of multi-parametric, high-resolution measurements in advancing the understanding of gamma-ray production during thunderstorms.

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以色列黑门山雷暴地面增强（TGE）和相关伽马射线发射的多参数分析

雷暴地面增强（TGEs），有时被称为伽马射线发光，是雷暴电场驱动的地表伽马射线通量的短暂增加。这项研究调查了2018年1月4日至6日和1月14日在以色列北部黑门山的埃米利奥·塞格雷宇宙射线天文台观测到的两次TGE事件。这两种情况都是在无雨条件下进行的，因此排除了氡冲刷效应。连续监测伽马射线计数、垂直电场强度、中子通量和闪电数据，从而能够详细分析可能的TGE机制。两个TGEs都表现出与电场波动相一致的显著的伽马射线增强。1月4 ~ 6日的事件强度（峰值3500 cpm）高于1月14日的事件（峰值1600 cpm），持续时间更长。虽然伽马射线增强伴随着负电场，但在1月14日观察到一个例外，即正电场与伽马射线计数的增加同时发生，可能是由于山附近雷云的主要低正电荷区域（LPCR）。Spearman相关分析显示，在TGEs期间，伽马射线、中子通量和大气压力之间的关系与正常天气条件相比存在实质性差异。值得注意的是，伽玛射线计数的衰减呈指数型延长趋势，平均半衰期为54.05 min，这强烈表明风暴诱导环流抬升和悬浮的氡子代对伽玛射线的衰减有重要贡献，同时在加速过程中，谱线修正（MOS）是次要的伽玛射线产生机制。闪电放电虽然存在，但与伽马射线增强没有直接相关，这加强了雷暴电场在TGE产生中的主导作用。这项研究为TGE机制提供了更多的见解，强调了电场动力学和云电荷结构的影响。这些发现强调了多参数、高分辨率测量在促进对雷暴期间伽马射线产生的理解方面的重要性。

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来源期刊

Science of the Total Environment 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

17.60

自引率

10.20%

发文量

8726

审稿时长

2.4 months

期刊介绍： The Science of the Total Environment is an international journal dedicated to scientific research on the environment and its interaction with humanity. It covers a wide range of disciplines and seeks to publish innovative, hypothesis-driven, and impactful research that explores the entire environment, including the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. The journal's updated Aims & Scope emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary environmental research with broad impact. Priority is given to studies that advance fundamental understanding and explore the interconnectedness of multiple environmental spheres. Field studies are preferred, while laboratory experiments must demonstrate significant methodological advancements or mechanistic insights with direct relevance to the environment.