NASA's Fermi Catches Gamma-ray Flashes from Tropical Storms

Terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFBR) are high-energy light emissions occurring naturally on Earth, often during storms. These flashes are produced when accelerated electrons, deflected by air molecules, emit gamma rays. Data from NASA's Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope indicates over 1000 TGFBR occur daily worldwide. Improved data has linked TGFBR to specific tropical weather systems, showing that weaker storms can produce more TGFBR, while stronger storms like hurricanes generate them in outer rain bands. These findings enhance our understanding of the relationship between storm intensity, lightning frequency, and TGFBR production.

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