High-Energy Atmospheric Radiation: From Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements to Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes

TL;DR

This paper proposes a unified framework for high-energy atmospheric radiation, interpreting various phenomena as related runaway processes at different altitudes, supported by multi-platform observational data.

Contribution

It introduces the Dual-stage model (DSM) that unifies thunderstorm ground enhancements and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, offering a new physics-based classification approach.

Findings

Satellite, aircraft, balloon, and ground data support the DSM.

The unified model resolves previous contradictions in the field.

New classification criteria improve understanding of particle acceleration.

Abstract

This work presents a unified conceptual and observational framework that reinterprets these radiation bursts as manifestations of the same runaway processes happening at different atmospheric depths (Dual-stage model, DSM). We review recent results from satellite (ASIM), aircraft (ALOFT), balloon (HELEN), and ground-based (SEVAN and KANAZAWA) experiments to demonstrate the advantages of this integrated approach. This study addresses key contradictions in the field, introduces new classification criteria based on physics rather than detector location, and enhances our understanding of particle acceleration in thunderstorms.