For centuries, lightning has both fascinated and frightened people. However, how this natural phenomenon is formed remains a mystery that scientists have not yet fully understood. Now, a team from Pennsylvania State University may be very close to solving this mystery.
In a study published on July 28 in the Journal of Geophysical Research, a new theory about the formation of lightning was developed. The team used a mathematical model they developed to simulate the internal structure of storm clouds. This model reveals how electric fields operate in regions that pave the way for lightning formation.
The formation of lightning was simulated.
According to the new theory, powerful electric fields formed within clouds accelerate free electrons, which collide with nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air and produce X-rays. These high-energy photons cause new electrons to form, initiating a chain reaction that ultimately results in lightning. The findings of the study provide the first definitive and numerical explanation of how lightning begins in nature.
The research also provides a clearer understanding of the types of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that occur during lightning formation. This process encompasses not only lightning that is visible to the eye, but also atmospheric events that can occur without producing visual or radio signals, yet emit X-rays. Such events can occur particularly during the initial stage of lightning or during short-term discharge processes and are typically detected using remote sensing systems.
In addition, the research offers a new perspective on the connection between terrestrial gamma-ray bursts (TGFs) associated with lightning and lightning itself. TGFs are observed as sudden and intense gamma-ray emissions that occur within storm clouds and can only be recorded by satellites or ground-based radiation sensors. The new model explains the common origin of these high-energy phenomena by showing that both X-ray and gamma-ray production can originate from the same electrical processes.
One of the most notable aspects of the model is that it provides the first time-dependent simulation that allows for quantitative comparisons between events at different altitudes. Previous models typically only examined limited regions. Co-author Zaid Pervez emphasized that this new approach is much more consistent with observations.
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