Articles | Volume 25, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8443-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8443-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Aug 2025
Research article |
| 04 Aug 2025
| 04 Aug 2025
First reported detection of a winter continental gamma-ray glow in Europe
Jakub Šlegl
Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Husinec-Rez, Czech Republic
Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Zbyněk Sokol
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Petr Pešice
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Ronald Langer
Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
Igor Strhárský
Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
Jana Popová
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Martin Kákona
Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Husinec-Rez, Czech Republic
Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
Iva Ambrožová
Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Husinec-Rez, Czech Republic
Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Husinec-Rez, Czech Republic
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Gamma ray radiation related to thunderstorms was previously observed at the high-altitude mountain observatories or on the western coast of Japan, usually being terminated by lightning discharges. We show unusual observations of gamma rays at an altitude below 1000 m, coinciding with peculiar rapid variations in the vertical electric field, which are linked to inverted intracloud lightning discharges. This indicates that a strong, lower positive-charge region was present inside the thundercloud.
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Short summary
We present the first-ever reported gamma-ray glows from a winter thunderstorm in continental Europe. Although two glows were detected at the same time, only one was ended by a discharge. Using advanced instruments such as the Ka-band vertically oriented Doppler radar and SEVAN detector, we gained new insights into the inner thunderstorm processes even in a cloud only 3 km in height.
We present the first-ever reported gamma-ray glows from a winter thunderstorm in...
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