NASA | Fermi Helps Scientists Study Gamma-ray Thunderstorms

The video discusses terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs), which are high-energy radiation events occurring naturally on Earth. NASA's Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope detects about 1100 TGFs daily. Recent research combines Fermi data with ground-based radar and lightning data, revealing TGFs originate from diverse storm types. Lightning within clouds can accelerate electrons, producing gamma rays. TGFs are more common than previously thought, but many go undetected due to atmospheric weakening. Understanding TGFs can enhance knowledge of Earth's natural particle accelerators.

What findings suggest that TGFs may be more common than previously thought?

Explain the significance of studying TGFs in relation to Earth's natural particle accelerators.