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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4153
© 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/egusphere-2025-4153
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
05 Oct 2025
| 05 Oct 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).
Threshold Atmospheric Electric Fields for Initiating Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanches: Theoretical Estimates and CORSIKA Simulations
Abstract. We examine the threshold Atmospheric Electric Field (Eth) needed to initiate a runaway avalanche process in Earth's atmosphere. We compare the traditional, thirty-year-old theoretical threshold value with its recently updated value, along with the threshold derived from CORSIKA-simulated avalanches (Ez). The altitude dependence of these threshold values is analyzed, considering changes in air density and their effects on avalanche development. This study is vital for understanding high-energy atmospheric phenomena in both the lower and upper atmosphere, including thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs) and gamma glows, as well as for refining AEF models based on particle flux measurements.
How to cite. Chilingarian, A., Hovhannisyan, L., and Zazyan, M.: Threshold Atmospheric Electric Fields for Initiating Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanches: Theoretical Estimates and CORSIKA Simulations, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4153, 2025.
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A I Alikhanyan national lab (Yerevan Physics Institute), Alikhanyan Brothers 2, Yerevan 36, Armenia
Liza Hovhannisyan
A I Alikhanyan national lab (Yerevan Physics Institute), Alikhanyan Brothers 2, Yerevan 36, Armenia
Mary Zazyan
A I Alikhanyan national lab (Yerevan Physics Institute), Alikhanyan Brothers 2, Yerevan 36, Armenia
Short summary
Thunderstorms can accelerate particles in the atmosphere, producing bursts of radiation at the ground. We investigated how strong the electric field inside a cloud must be to start such events. Using advanced computer simulations and comparing with measurements from mountain stations, we found that fields must be stronger than earlier theory suggested. Our results improve understanding of storm electricity and its role in natural radiation.
Thunderstorms can accelerate particles in the atmosphere, producing bursts of radiation at the...
I find the study useful in that knowledge of the ambient electric field is crucial to understanding the initiation of a lightning flash discharge. This should help the modeling community in finding decent constraints for future simulations of lightning discharges given a particular altitude. I am enclosing a PDF of my edits/comments.